Getting Fry to Attach to Their Parents

Fry are sustained by attaching to their parents and eating slime off them. Sometimes, discus don’t attach to their parents. This is especially common when the parents are young discus pairs. If your fry don’t attach to their parents, don’t worry! In this article, we will give you methods you can try to get fry to attach to their parents. Lastly, we’ll describe your other feeding options if the fry still refuse to attach to their parents. 

Blue Panda Discus with Fry

HOW CAN I GET MY FRY TO ATTACH TO THEIR PARENTS?

When discus breed, they almost always turn dark, so fry are attracted to dark objects. If your fry see other dark objects in the room, they might get distracted. To solve this problem, color the tank’s sides with a very light color or cover the sides with white paper or white cardboard. Remove any dark objects from your tank and use light colored or clear heaters. 

Next, lower the water’s temperature for the first few days when the fry are swimming. When the temperature is lowered, the fry will have less room to swim, and it will be easier for them to find their parents.

Use a low wattage light bulb to light up the aquarium 24 hours a day during the first two weeks when the fry are bonding with their parents. When the tank is lit up, it will be easier for the fry to find their parents.

If your tank has a central filtration system, slow down the velocity of water entering the aquarium. You don’t want turbulent water.

Also, to keep your fry healthy and thus able to attach to their parents, frequently change the water and keep the water acidic, which will prevent dangerous bacteria from growing. 

IF MY FRY STILL WON’T ATTACH TO THEIR PARENTS, HOW CAN I FEED THEM?

If your fry still won’t attach to their parents, your best option is to try Jack Wattley’s artificial fry rearing method, which we explain in our Learning Center. Your other option is to feed your fry live San Francisco baby brine shrimp, as long as your fry are big enough to eat them. San Francisco baby brine shrimp are known for being smaller than many other baby brine shrimps.

San Francisco Brine Shrimp

Red Passion Discus with Fry

QUESTIONS

• What type of discus pairs are less likely to have their fry attach to them in a few days?
• Why is it important for discus fry to attach to their parents?
• How can you make your tank’s environment conducive to fry attaching to their parents?
• If the fry simply refuse to attach to their parents, what are your options when feeding them?