Tropical Fish Discus Forum Questions Answered!

Archive for May, 2006

Cleaning Time

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

I have 7 Discus 1 year old, one week later I found that two pairs taking 2 corners and cleaning it, I put every couple alone in a 120 liters tank with cone, and now they are cleaning the cones for about 10 days ago, and no eggs till now. How much time does it take from start cleaning cone, to laying eggs?

Reply:
If it is a new pair, it will take some time.
After transfering they need to adapt to the new environment then only
they will locate a suitable spot to lay eggs.
There is no fix timing from cleaning to lay eggs.

Posted in General | Comments Off

Tank Size

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

What size of aquarium tank should we use for discus fish? What equipments should be used and should we use filters? What is the degree for “PH” of water?

Reply:
You will use glass tank: any of the size below …
1. 2 feet tank – 24″ x 18″ x 18″
2. 3 feet tank – 36″ x 18″ x 18″
3. 4 feet tank – 48″ x 24″ x 18″

Your local aquarium shop attendant will help set up the tank with the equipment that is available in your country.

The water pH will be at the range of 6.5 to 7.5.

Number of discus you can keep, for example:
3 feet tank 36″ x 18″ x 18″
Contains about 30 gallons of water.
You can keep roughly about 10 babies to adult size.

Posted in Discus Tank | Comments Off

Beard Algae

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

We just bought a house with a large aquarium. The aquarium has a bad case of “beard algae”. We’ve never had an aquarium and would appreciate advice on how to go about saving the two fish that are left and cleaning the tank.

Reply:
“Beard algae”.
To clear these algae and clean the tank, you follow the method below:

Remove the plants and fish.
Top up the tank with water; add in Chlorine or H2O2 for overnight.
The tank will be clean and algae disappeared the following day.

Fill up the tank again, then check Chlorine with Chlorine Test. If
everything is okay, then you can return the fish to the tank.

Posted in Discus Tank | Comments Off

Aggressive and Bullying

Thursday, May 4th, 2006

I have a 55 gal I started collecting discus in August 04. I now have 5 and one is extremely aggressive it is a high fin red turq. I also have a asian spotted leopard that is constantly getting pounded by the other it becomes so bad that the asian gets little hive spots on its tail fin and looks very stressed. when it gets bad I put the hifin in with my angles and everything is fine in both tanks. I want to keep them together will they ever stop? Should i get rid of one of them?

Reply:
The high fin Red Turquoise is aggressive, so remove and isolate it temporary for same time, then only return it to the original tank.
She will be tame down.
The old fellow in the tank will bully the new comer. Since she is so aggressive then make him a new comer.

Treat the Spotted Leopard with antibiotic.

Posted in Tank Mates | Comments Off

Mating, or just fighting?

Thursday, May 4th, 2006

I love these fish but i am new at this, so i check your site often- thanks for all the great info!
I have 4 discus in a 44 gallon tall planted tank, 2 brilliant blue and two blue diamond.

brilliant blue #1- largest (4″) healthy-lately this one hides behind the plants in the bottom/back right

brilliant blue # 2- (3″)getting chubby and stays in the back bottom right corner and keeps the others away from there. especially likes to chase #1 around, they face off at each other and flip their bodies at each other, and their beautiful colors come out, but that’s all, no cleaning a place to
spawn, and not even together all the time.

blue diamond #1- very chubby, like it may have eggs…? kind of stays off by itself on the left side of the tank.

blue diamond #2- a skinny ugly guy who doesn’t get involved. looks bad, but eats and behaves normally, swims around and doesn’t seem bothered by the
chasing, etc.

Do you think i need to separate them, or just wait to see what else
happens?.

Reply:
Overall your fish is not yet time to mate. They are still small, unless they are stunted.

The behaviour of the brilliant, look like both are male (Flipping). It is too early to separate them. Give them time to grow up.

Posted in Breeding | Comments Off

Why the stomach getting bigger?

Thursday, May 4th, 2006

Already 3 months the discus stomach is getting bigger and bigger each week. I have try change the food and give medication but it still no help. The fish is ok it have appetite to eat. Just the stomach
is getting bigger.

Reply:
1. Possible there are internal parasites in the stomach.
2. The parasites multiply and grow bigger, then the stomach grow
bigger as well.

Treatment:
Apply Epsom salt in the tank for 24 hours.
You can repeat the treatment.

Posted in Health, Diease and Treatments | Comments Off