How to Artificially Raise Discus

In this video I go through how I am trying to raise Discus artificially. I have trying this for a long time, testing different methods and I think I have figured it out. Hope you enjoy the video.

[@discusdivana7581]

Hi there, you are absolutely 100% right. I did it full time for 7 years between extra pairs that parent raised. It's a lot of work and you nailed it!

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Discus Divana, good to hear from you again. It has been a stuggle to figure it out, but the process seems to be working, so happy camper :-)

[@fritzamtsberg5310]

Wife and I have been trying for months. I think this will help a lot. Thank you.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Fritz, hope it helps and let us know how it goes. Good Luck.

[@wildbettasmexico4595]

All those details are the reason why I enjoy so much all your videos, still amazing, wishing you the best from Mexico!!!

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thank you so much for the awesome comment

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Excited to watch. Your videos are great !!

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks Mate, appreciate the comment.

[@MsJimbo1960]

Really enjoyed this, thanks for sharing .I will surely try this.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Glad you liked it. Let me know how you go.

[@FwrapperAqua]

Great video... I love the research that you have done... To good.. I will definitely try it.....

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thank you for the great comment, really appreciate it.

[@raining7049]

Hi there, this is probably the single best video I’ve seen on reading discus fry. I have been pulling my hair out as I can’t get past day 3 with the fry. Thank you for sharing some tips and your experience. Excellent sir I have subscribed

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thank you so much for the positive comment and good luck.

[@raining7049]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper keep up the great work. One question, you say feeding every two hours where possible but how long do you leave the air stone with egg in the water? Thanks

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

@@raining7049 at night i feed at about 10pm and then again at about 9 or 10am. During the day I try and change every 4 hours or so. Because of freshwater being supplied i find it does not foul.

[@raining7049]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper thank you sir. A gentleman sharing your knowledge.

[@krishutchinson1739]

Hey mate, thank you so much for sharing all this information and thank you for the updates...you are a legend my friend, can't wait to try your method :)

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Glad to help

[@krishutchinson1739]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper I'll keep you updated on how I go...Thanks again.

[@skdragon8845]

Thanks you so much for such an informative video

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

My Pleasure SK Dragon

[@cliftondiscusuk9569]

Great video and info 👍

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks! 👍

[@letshaveago2201]

Great content!

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks Daren

[@totaltropicals_tv1010]

Nice to see some more Australian content, good luck with your endeavors

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thank you, appreciate the comment.

[@1300wipass]

Australian content...?? Thats a very South African ozzy accent he's got going on then haha... perhaps an ozzy springbok supporter... but 100% agree, AWESOME content!

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

@@1300wipass hahahahaha ex south African.

[@mohdfidaus-ib2lo]

Hi sir..thank you for the video.its help alot and give a lot of aspiration

[@rayaquatics1]

thank you so much great job

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Cheers, thank you

[@tonhom260]

thank you , i can make it , feel amazed

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

My pleasure. Give it a go!!

[@lepin8721]

Love your share ❤❤❤❤

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks

[@PremKumar-tc6od]

Thank you so much, sir

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Most welcome

[@Hnightcom]

Great video. Trying to raise discus same way. Two couples and they end up eating the fry. Thank you so much for the videos

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

My Pleasure

[@MotorCityAquatiks]

I need all of your info I'll watch all of your videos. Congrats

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks, awesome comment. Really appreciate it.

[@patosteopath8796]

Merci beaucoup ! Top !

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks

[@pompeiranch7883]

You are so generous to be sharing your experiences, this was amazing, thank you. Do you have any trouble with the air stone trying to float? You are a real detective!!

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Cheers, thanks mate appreciate the comment

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, just noticed that I did not answer your question. The airstone is heavy, not the plastic type, so it does not float.

[@jja1941]

I think I am getting it right or closer to right. Used larger holes in the bowl but only 4 holes, put a 2 inch piece of airline tubing on the air stones as a handle and also to blow into when I clean them, and went to powdered egg yolk from Amazon, $7US and does not need refrigerate. I can see by the activity of the current batch, about 35 or so, more normal swimming activity attacking the stone etc. THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION!!

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Awesome mate. Let me know how it goes.

[@johnmaude5065]

I love the Ziss air stones 👍 very cheap and very good

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Agree, they are great.

[@cichlidsinthehouse1272]

i love this video ,i will try this.Im struggling to raise fry, parents always ended up eating them.A very impressive idea,by the way im from Phillipines.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

You can do it!

[@gavogr69]

Very good timing I’m doing the same trying a totally different method. I’m using a method that the food stays in the tank for at least 8 hrs before you have to feed again. Similar just not the airdrome method. Not my method but I’m trying this one for someone who has given me the method. He raised fry for years but took him a long time to get the food correct. My discus just laid but ate the eggs today so next batch will be going in the nursery. Like you many failures before he got it right. I will keep you up to date when they lay again.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hey Gavin, yes pls keep me updated on how you go. I find if I do a water change when they are about to lay or have laid, they seem to eat the eggs. But hey this is discus, who knows why they do what they do.😁 Good luck.

[@gavogr69]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper true Discus will be discus 😂

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

@@gavogr69 so true mate

[@blueheckle]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper good video what is the white container with the bolts thanks

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

@@blueheckle it is a plastic tray that i bought from kmart. Stainless bolts covered in heatshrink and rests on tank. Has a cut out with mesh and I place the rearing containers in there.

[@andrep1784]

Brilliant

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thank you

[@casperlette8683]

Hi I was wondering isit best then to keep the tank light on permanently then your video is amazing

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, a dimm light will work well in the beginning, when you want them to keep nibbling on the egg.

[@r9albinodiscus959]

Nice informative video sir

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Cheers, thank you

[@r9albinodiscus959]

Sir I am from India,can we raise the angle fry by using the same setup

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

You could, but not needed as Angle fry easy to rear once free swimming.

[@michaladamski6039]

Great tutorial, will try it soon . How long u keeping them in bowl ? Are you transferring them from bowl to separate tank ? And what about water changes when u have them in that bowl and box ?😅

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, I move them once they start taking BS and I see the pink tummies. because the bowl is drilled and has water flowing from the tank that bowl is in, I don't do any water changes while they are being raised in the bowl. The tank is filtered and very little load.

[@ManuelGonzalez-mq5zb]

Great video I would like to try but how do you do a water change on the main tank without losing the water level on the tray and bowl

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, the tray has a cut out towards the top and keeps water even if the tank level is down. The tray is "suspended" on the edges of the tank, so remains up at the top. The bowl is drilled along the top, so water will always remain in the bowl even if the water level drops. Hope that makes sense.

[@ManuelGonzalez-mq5zb]

Got it 👍 thanks

[@mikesdiscus]

Hi, I’ve used your system to raise my discus from as soon as eggs are laid. I just wanted to pass on my experience so far. The eggs if left with the parents get eaten and they had spawned approx 10 times before. I was curious to see if the parents were fertile so I covered the eggs with a perforated pipe. The eggs went bad after 3 days (fungus) and this was most likely the reason the parents ate them. Determined to see if the parents were fertile I removed the eggs after being laid and treated them in an aerated container with methyl blue. 55hrs later I had fry. I set up something similar to your system with a few tweaks here and there. I am up to day 9 since eggs were laid with fry taking to BBS, Hikari FB and egg yolk. I have a second batch at day 5 since being laid. I still clean out the bowls every 4hrs with a wipe down and new tank water and new egg stone. Thankyou again for making a great video.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

That is awesome Mike!! Well done mate.

[@davidmckenzie1514]

Great content. Keep it up. Is there a reason you are raising artificially? Looking forward to the next video.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi David, I have pairs in a large tank that spawn and have the fry eaten by others or end up in the filter. So been trying to figure out how to artificially raise those. Thanks for the comments.

[@davidmckenzie1514]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper thanks for the reply. Keep up the great content.

[@invaderjoshua6280]

I mean if you just mix powered krill with spirulina powder into a auto feeder set to go off about 6 times a day it’s not to hard. I did this to raise SA cichlid fry like angels and discus since early on. Also over filtering is a good idea by using extra large sponge filters. If you have enough bacteria growth room on the sponges and keep floater plants in the tank, along with a sand bed you shouldn’t need to do anything but top off.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks for the comments

[@gk9417]

Thanks 👍✌️🇨🇦

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

My pleasure

[@gk9417]

What do you do for water changes Maybe I missed it 👍✌️🇨🇦

[@markodimitrijevic6684]

When to transfer the fry to the bowl? and how to do it?

[@jja1941]

Are you adding water to the bowls continually by having the output of the sponge just partially go into the bowls where they eventually overflow? As opposed to lowering the bowl holes and having water just continually flow thru the holes-too much flow?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, spot on. The overflow of the sponge is running into the bowls, I do it so that it runs down the inside of the bowl and not a strong flow. So water into bowl and out through holes back into the main tank

[@jja1941]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper I'm on my way. Put the newly hatched wigglers in the bowl this morning. Just ordered a few more bowls after I cracked one of the 2 I bought. I stopped with 4 holes on the 2nd bowl-did not want to push my luck. I might put more holes in next bowl for added safety of not overflowing. I plan on using Wormer Plus too, which I already have; just have to go over your great videos again for timing etc. Thanks for inspiring me to give it a go-got my first discus 69 years ago!!!

[@pavansutha]

Hai sir, saw your video and you have explained in brief and clear One single doubt is how many hours once should I replace the air stone

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

HI, if possible I replace every 4 hours, and leave one in overnight. This only works if you have filtered water passing through the holding container.

[@pavansutha]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper i have two breeding pairs at my home and in both pairs femals eat the frys after free-swimming, till then they guard day and night carfully then eat after free-swimming So I remove females once the eggs are hatched and males will look after for a month plus very well Problem is hatch rate is very good around 90% but fries are not coming on body, only 20% will come on body rest will die roaming in the tank for day or two Pls guide

[@jja1941]

Have you found the need for Wormer Plus at 4 weeks for those fry raised artificially??

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, will have to check my notes, but I don't think I used it for artificially reared.

[@lundboat3855]

Hello how often did you change water in main tank ?? Also what's pH is best for them thx.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, I use aged water that has been standing in the room for about 48 hours. I only do water changes very 2 weeks or so for the pair.

[@pavansutha]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper Hai sir, many say we should change water daily 25% for breeding pair Is it so 🤔,.understanding Discus is very hard and tricky

[@robertopasqualucci7113]

Congratulations with your method! How long do you boil eggs please ?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Roberto, I boil for about 5 mins so that the yolk is nice and solid.

[@robertopasqualucci7113]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper thank you so much!

[@robertopasqualucci7113]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper how many days do you generally have to feed the yolk before switch to brine shrimps nauplia please ?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, at about 5 to 7 days I start introducing newly hatched BS and observe. If I see pink bellies, I start adding, if not I try again the following day.

[@robertopasqualucci7113]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper thanks a lot!

[@HienLe-yn6ep]

Can you do a video on the progress of the fry after 8th days?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, most of them are sold, but I can show the ones that are left.

[@wllm2007]

can know how often u change water in the tank where the plastic bowl is floated in?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, not changed while the discuss fry are in the bowl. The tank water remains the same as there is no other fish in there most of the time.

[@wllm2007]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper THEN wont the foul water continuously returning from the bowl into the main tank eventually foul the main tank water with the uneaten egg yold remains?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

The main tank has a high volume and filtered. I have never had issues with this.

[@jaxonm4762]

Hi. what day do you start feeding live baby brine shrimp?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Jaxon, I starting testing them from about 7 to 10 days

[@wirabs15]

If the holes at the top IMO debris will stuck at the bottom. Why you dont make the hole at the bottom?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, I want to skim off the top any film.

[@wirabs15]

please tell about tray and plastic box size

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, the tray size is based on the size of the aquarium you use. I use stainless bolts to hold the container on the aquarium edge.

[@j.mardul]

Hello, I have a question for you, I have been trying the artificial breeding with many spawns, but after 3-4 days of free swimming, they all start to die, I don't know what is happening, and I don't know what to do

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, are you using the method I showed? If so maintain the flow into the bowls and replace the egg on a regular basis.

[@j.mardul]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper Hello, first of all thanks for answering me. Yes, I have a method similar to yours, could I contact you privately? greetings

[@glengreasley7867]

Is the egg just boiled egg ???

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, yes just boiled egg. Use only the yellow.

[@khsmith6242]

Hi there sir, this video I feel is the tipping point for me to succeed. Like you I got to 4/5 days with wrigglers but lost the water I think. I think it’s the mesh over the holes on the outside was the light bulb moment in your video and why I didn’t think of that is annoying me. Really appreciate the video top man

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks mate.

[@dirtyoldfarmhand3]

breeding

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Agree, need to do more breeding videos.

[@yenriver5255]

you should try my design. No water change. Food last 8 hrs on the side of tanks. I have articles in TFH and one in Australian magazine. If you are keen to see my system give me your email addy. I will post some details to you.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks Yen River, [e-mail]