How to Breed Discus in smaller Aquariums

In this video I discuss how I have bred my discuss in smaller aquariums. I discuss selecting a pair, water , feeding and when to remove the fry.

[@discusdivana7581]

Hi there. Your video is extremely informative and professionally delivered. I like your objective view and explaining your method afterwards. I breed discus based on the 100 litre per breeding pair principle, I had 36 discus pairs and 65 discus tanks before I lost everything. I bred them in 100 litres simply because I love giving them a bit more space and bigger volumes of water tends to me more stable. But I also had success, like you, in 60 litre volume before. Consistency is key with water perimetres and I hear that in your methods which is awesome. I also love that you use Safe and not Prime. It's also amazing to see how your pH drops after 24 hour aging . Shocking. Your Calcium Carbonate levels are probably lower than mine for the pH to drop like that! Where are you based? Your feeding regime is also interesting. Just twice a day - but with oxheart that's a good idea. In 2015 I overfed my discus with ox heart and they developed fattly liver syndrome. So I like the concistency in your water perimetres and your feeding regime balance! Great channel!

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Discus Divana, what a awesome comment. Love reading comments like this. Dammm you were dedicated to have those many tanks. Yes, that PH, I think the waste in the water also contributes to the quick PH drop. My other aquariums with plants and gravel seem to sit between 6.4 and 6.8. I was very surprised by that reading. I live in Queensland, Australia. The Gold Coast. Once again thanks for the comments, really appreciate you taking the time to write that.

[@ericsparks6276]

Thank you for all the great details! 🎉🎉

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

You are so welcome!

[@patosteopath8796]

Hi, thanks for helpfully nice and efficient video! With your experience how long the airstone could stay before changing! 😊😊I many guys I work! 😊😊.. Best wishes and regards for this new year! From Paris.. France! 🍾🇫🇷👍

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, Thank you. I use the airstone for feeding for the one batch, but I do wash them everyday before putting on new yolk.

[@jackspencer1188]

Love the video I’m planning on setting up a discus breeding tank this video has really helped

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Jack, glad the video has helped.

[@ameenmaj]

Lovely video to say the least. I was lucky to chance upon this. Explained things in a simple manner. I hope to see more especially on discus.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks Ameen, glad you enjoyed it.

[@adamcenteno6155]

Thank you very much for this valuable information. I really learned a lot. Love your accent.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks Adam, appreciate the comment.

[@KeepingFishSimple]

Interesting video, thank you!

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Appreciate the comment KFS. Thank you.

[@farooqahmedkhan4072]

Very good knowledge you share with discus fish thanks it helps a lots

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks appreciate the positive comments.

[@bryanprather783]

Your water acts like the tap from here in Missouri. They run it threw lime pipes to get the ph high. Yet there isn't buffering to keep it stable hence the crash. So I've stopped using the tap water and use bottled drinking water in 5 gallon jugs. Works great but I only have a 40 gallon breeder to deal with. Maybe consider using ROI water and add minerals to that as an alternative?

[@aymbrist3226]

Thank u so much for these information sir so helpful 🙏🏻🥇

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Aym, my pleasure and thanks for the comment.

[@Holger-ki2cc]

Very interesting video😀👍

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks Holger1106, appreciate the feedback

[@myfishni]

Great video

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks!

[@BMRVISHNUMK]

Great job.. sir💕

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thank you

[@localguy8]

Very informative video really. Like you I bought 6 colorful fish for a 37 gal tank in the living room for color. Then 2 started pairing up to spawn ! I had to buy a 20 gal long tank n moved the othe fishes into that thank you see what happens next. So I do appreciate your small tank experience 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Appreciate the comment and all the best with breeding :-)

[@indianadiscuss8974]

Very informative

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thank you.

[@opercula]

Excellent video. You must have a background in teaching.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thank you, in IT, but use to also teach IT many many years ago :-)

[@roger.rdelvillar]

Thanks for your useful advices about it. How many of safe do you use? I'm having problems to find the correct measurement. because it is very concentrated and degrades in a very short time to store it. Thanks.

[@bencharisse4079]

Damn that’s one good Video 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Cheers, thanks Ben

[@pompeiranch7883]

Thank you!

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

My pleasure

[@pujalama8356]

Thank u for the video

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Pua Lama, my pleasure

[@rajeevsistla7783]

Good video. I have had my discus pair spawn a dozen times but no luck with the wrigglers so far since the pair eat up the eggs after a couple of days before they hatch.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, it come sometimes take a while for the parents to stop eating the eggs. When there are eggs do not do water changes, it will trigger them to spawn again.

[@rajeevsistla7783]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper really appreciate. I have tried that as well but I guess as you rightly said the parents are not ready yet to take care of the spawn. One of my fellow breeder suggested that I try separate the eggs and raise them but I somehow didn’t have the courage to do it so far.

[@johnmaude5065]

Very interesting, as I’m looking at getting a pair and try to breed them in a 65 ltr tank, the Ph is my worry as it comes out of the tap here at around 8

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi John, mine also comes out very high, but I find after 30 hours or so in the buckets it is down to the mid sixes, so that is great. I was very surprised at how low the breeding tank had dropped. Need to calibrate my pH meter and check again

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

John wanted to add that I found if they settle in the small tank, they seem happy. Provided I don't overfeed and keep up good water maintenance. The big advantage I found with the smaller tanks is that I don't need a massive amount off aged water. 20 liter bucket and that is about 30%. Also if I need to treat for flukes etc. I don't have to use big quantities, and the meds last longer, therefore cheaper. 100watt heater, so less power usage.

[@Profector2]

Watching Jack Wattley's videos I saw they treated the tank water with potassium permanganate(PP) to reduce those early deaths. You'd have to skim through the comments, but I believe he gives an exact measurement. I've seen it used for killing snails and algae on plants too. PP is cheaper, but it might be harder on the fish too.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Cheers Larry, I have seen the use of PP but have been hesitant :-)

[@MsJimbo1960]

Reallyenjoyed this.Can you tell me, do you paint your tanks background and sides ?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, I use vinyl. Just stick it on. :-)

[@VAquaDiscus]

Hi Thank you for sharing this informative video. May I ask for the details of where you ordered the Wormer plus in Australia? Link would be appreciated🙂

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, I just bought on E-bay

[@coribellanoche]

Thank you very much for an excellent, informative video. I have been looking for a good, reliable hand held pH meter. Which one are you using? Do you have to calibrate it prior to using it? Greeting from Rapid City, South Dakota, USA

[@coribellanoche]

Sorry, I just saw the reference for the pH meter - thanks again for the video

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

All good and welcome.

[@cheveburkinshaw860]

Great video. Love to see display tank . Have u double checked ur ph tester ? Maybe with a jbl ,api fluval or the like test kit . I’ve just never experienced such a drop

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Cheve, I will show the display tank one day 😁. I will calibrate and check the PH meter, yip it was lower than I expected. Can only think that maybe the waste has contributed to the ph drop.

[@douglasbooyens2844]

Well done! this was very informative. Is that a South African accent?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Douglas, thanks for the nice comment. Yip, you are correct, I am originally from South Africa. 😁

[@gedGOD]

What the pH is doing there is surprising to me, but I've always buffered my water with the exception of shrimp. Where did you get that pH meter from? I bought a cheap one off of eBay but it is almost useless.

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Eddy, I use the BlueLab ph pen. It is used in hydroponics, but I find that brand very good. I was also surprised by the low ph. Will be looking into that.

[@ahamedrasmyahamedmohideen6550]

Can you explain wormer plus treatment and water changes after this treatment please?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, the package has the treatment guidelines and also indicates when water changes needs to be done. Just make sure if you use the one I use that you mix it well in some aquarium water before adding to your tank. The amount used depends on water volume and be careful not to overdose.

[@ahamedrasmyahamedmohideen6550]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper thanks

[@neelneoutube]

You have not mentioned the TDS of your tap water.. are you addibg RO water?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, I don't use RO water. My tap water has a TDS of below 100 and the current TDS is the discuss tank is 180. Great question. Thanks

[@David.jr2]

Hi, How long are the fish tanks where the discus fish are?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, the Cubes are 40cm x 40cm x 40cm. www.petcity.com.au/opti-cube-tank-40cm

[@JosephKarthic]

Keeping discus itself is a task let alone the babies 😅

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hahahahaha true.

[@KushalBalajiMusic]

Can u please tell the measurement of the tank like LxBxH

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

The tank is 40cm x 40cm x 40cm

[@thomasghee3701]

Do you keep the breeding pair in the 60 l tanks there whole life’s or is it just for breeding thank you sir

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, once I have a "good" pair I keep them in the 60. The only time I take them out is if I want to change one of the pair or to rest the pair in a large tank.

[@jimdaggett8425]

great video, where are you?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Jim, thanks for the comment. I am QLD, Australia.

[@ckwong2033]

hi sir your breeding tank did not open oxygen ? or just becos you want show on video?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, I switch off the filters when making the video.

[@farooqahmedkhan4072]

If the parents eating the baby's then what is the solution for it please need your advice

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, I have found that sometimes that just happens and they eat the babies. It is normally the eggs and if they eat the babies there is sometimes a reason as well. Try covering the front of the aquarium and see if that helps.

[@CoreyDeMerchant]

The problem for the babies, to help the in a cheaper way and not as harmful, use one table spoon of epson salt to a ten gallon aquarium! Helps them out! Do a water change in 24hrs, cheaper and works! Also with babies you shouldn't do such large water changes, because discus babies can't handle the water change in ph, and temperatures change. 10 % only

[@chubchub3902]

Is ur tank drill

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Nope.

[@tait8900]

Hey what brand and model is your water meter? You should put up affiliate links! :)

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, the ph meter is blue labs.

[@yassinmiteya8782]

They say well water is good for breeding Discus is it True Sir?

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, it depends on the water, PH, TDS etc. I would test before using.

[@yassinmiteya8782]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper here in Tanzania water parameters is big issue many petstore they don't have it.

[@adamk4662]

Maybe calibrate the Ph meter

[@Great_Lakes_Discus]

Yea I have that exact same meter it’s garbage it’s so inaccurate. His tap water is definitely not dropping that acidic within 24 hours with just safe

[@umbertotucci1970]

Of course you can breed discus in a small tank. They all come from inbreeding and intensive mass production anyhow and they grew up in usually overcrowed tanks. Different matter if you want to breed wild discus. Beside, small tanks are somehow dangerous for the risk of water changing values are litterally possible in minutes, specially nitrites when you feed the fish

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Agree, but even a wild pair in my opinion can be bred in smaller tanks, if you carefully monitor and watch feeding etc.

[@Barath_Vajan_21]

First ❤️😂

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Thanks :-)

[@emcezet2515]

Czy akwarium o wymiarach: 80cm długość 80cm wysokość 50cm szerokość Będzie dobrym domem dla discus?

[@yassinmiteya8782]

Because my discus breed then later all eggs turns white

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi, that normally indicates that the eggs were not fertile.

[@davemathis4215]

Man I like this idea but just one of my discus would fill up that entire breeding tank you have 😂 no offense and respect but why is that breeding pair so small you said they are not small parents but that’s a 15 gallon aquarium and those guys are definitely tiny

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Dave, agreed not huge, but fair size. :-)

[@davemathis4215]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper subscribed I’m going to use your methods they seem to work really well, thx for making these videos and sharing knowledge,

[@unique35m]

Why do people feed such a hard fish. I appreciate your Challenge but it is an expensive fish water changes and feeding etc etc. Its not my business. I want to let you know in Turkey a man is breeding them without water changes just the top off

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hey Mustafa, good to hear from you again. I am also starting to question the need for continuously doing water changes.

[@unique35m]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper can it be done via biomedias I dont like the expensive ones. Here a fish keeper with hundreds of fishtanks had used. Floss sponge lava rock and again sponge to feed discus in a tank. But the sump had a 25 cm width. The other just uses sponges and every second day 30 percent water changes. Some does weekly 70-80 percent water changes via triple partitioned housings one block carbon 20 micron one gac carbon 10 micron and one 5 micron sediment filter. In Asia I saw 5-3-1 micron sediment filter to do waterchanges.And I saw f0 discus inte mud in the rivers. Come and understand. There is no standard for feeding them. The most interesting one was that Sponge on the bare bottom and Hamburg on it..I thought its a super idea . Both gravel filter and hmf for discus.I can send you the video

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

@@unique35m send me the video link please. I have been thinking about going old school on one of the tanks and using undergravel filter again :-)

[@dinomandzo9406]

Greetings kind sir, I am about to try my first discus tank and I would greatly appreciate some guidance before I make a wrong decision. If you would be so kind to contact me on my email, which I would gladly provide, I will be extremely grateful. I am planning on building a 540L tank and my main concern is about the filter that I should use. I can tell that you know your stuff so your help, again, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Dino

[@TheUrbanFishkeeper]

Hi Dino, no problem I can be contacted on [e-mail] I will say that there is a lot of views on filtration, substrate, water changes etc. but I am happy to provide you with my opinion. As a indication, I have a 950L aquarium with 10 discus, I could add more, but I want to change the tank and that means the discus will have to go. The tank has a very thin layer of gravel and some plants growing on wood in the center. Some believe no substrate, but I also keep cory's with my discus and they seem to keep the substrate "clean". Filtration is a interesting one, as the most economical and easy to maintain is a sump filter. I run 3 canister filters on mine. FX6, Hydra and Fluval G3. Water is just Tap water.

[@dinomandzo9406]

@@TheUrbanFishkeeper Thank you very much for sharing information. I will be writing you email shortly. Kind regards.