Breeding Discus Fish - Some Basic Tips

Enthusiasts know that breeding discus fish is the coup de grace of raising tropical fish, mostly because discus are extremely tricky to raise, let alone breed. But by following these few simple guidelines, you should start seeing positive results.

Let’s start with the aquarium.

Discus fish come from the warm, murky waters of the Amazon River, so it doesn’t make any sense to expect them to thrive in an environment that doesn’t simulate their natural habitat. Keeping your fish happy starts with the right aquatic environment, and happy discus are much more likely to breed than unhappy ones.

For starters, make sure the water is relatively warm. Aim for the mid 80’s, preferably 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but a difference of a few degrees either way is okay. As for pH levels, the Amazon River is slightly acidic, meaning it’s pH is lower than 7, so try to keep your levels somewhere between 5.5 and 7. Most experts never let their pH levels climb past 7.

Now let’s think about some decoration. Surviving in the treacherous Amazon River isn’t possible without good hiding spots, and discus fish love to hide. So provide some shelter in your aquarium. Almost any decorative devices that they can swim through and hide behind will suffice, but if you’re really serious then you’ll consider natural wood and live plants.

Above all else, make sure your aquarium is more than a glass box with gravel along the bottom. Many beginners forgo hiding places because they want to see their pets. But this places a big stress on the fish, as they’re not accustomed to such environments. And breeding discus fish that are stressed is impossible.

Diet tips.

Now that your fish are happy with their surroundings, let’s make sure they’re happy with their meals. Professional breeders feed their discus frozen blood worms, beef heart, brine shrimp, and/or white worms. These entrees promote general health, which in turn makes breeding discus fish that much easier.

A quick note about feeding: If the water quality isn’t just right, discus won’t eat. These are finicky fish, and they’ll probably try your patience on more than one occasion with their zero-tolerance attitudes. Unfortunately, if they don’t eat they’ll die, so if your discus aren’t eating don’t assume it’s a passing phase. Take a serious look at the water quality before it’s too late.

When discus fish are happy, they eat like pigs. That’s how you know you’ve got the water quality and the environment dialed in perfectly. And when they eat well, they’re excited to mate. Which means breeding discus fish successfully is an exercise in keeping them happy. See, I told you they were finicky.

There are other variables, but keeping your aquarium in optimum condition and providing a healthy diet are two of the important prerequisites for successfully breeding discus fish.