Helping a Breeding Pair to Spawn Again

WILL MY BREEDING PAIR SPAWN AGAIN?

If your discus pair has stopped breeding, don’t worry. As long as the pair is healthy, they are very likely to spawn again. Follow these suggestions to help them.

Red Panda and Marlboro Red Cross Discus Breeding Pair

HOW CAN I ADJUST MY BREEDING TANK ENVIRONMENT TO HELP THEM SPAWN AGAIN?

Frequently change your tank’s water. Discus are highly sensitive to their environment and flourish in pristine water. If you currently change 25% of your tank’s water weekly, try changing 25% of its water every other day for a few weeks.

Additionally, increase the water’s temperature. If the water temperature is currently 82 degrees Fahrenheit, then gradually increase the temperature to 86 degrees and leave it there for a few days to a week. Then, when you change the tank’s water, reduce the temperature back to 82 degrees.

Lower the water’s pH. Discus fish enjoy acidic water. Keep breeding pairs in a pH range between 5.0 and 5.8. Do not lower the pH more than .3 per day. If you lower the pH too quickly, your fish can suffer pH shock.

Also, give your discus more spawning surfaces. More spawning cones, a PVC pipe, plastic plants, or some spawning slates might be what the discus pair want before they will spawn again. Having a large aquarium can help you to have more space for spawning areas. 

Change your tank’s water shortly before storms. Discus often spawn when a storm front comes by. So thoroughly clean the aquarium the day before a low pressure system passes through your area.

Make sure the tank is in a quiet area. Discus get scared easily, and frightened discus won’t spawn. Keep their tank in an area that not many people will go by. Also, you can even cover the aquarium sides with paper or cardboard to give them more privacy. Discus probably won’t spawn if they are scared. Try keeping their tank in a place where they are not bothered by heavy foot traffic or loud noises. You can also cover the outsides of the aquarium with paper or cardboard to give them more privacy.

HOW CAN I ADJUST MY DISCUS’ DIET TO HELP THEM SPAWN AGAIN?

Feed your discus live foods, which can stimulate spawning. Discus especially enjoy white worms and black worms. Other options include brine shrimp, glass worms, mosquito larva, and large daphnia.

WHAT SHOULD I DO FOR MY DISCUS PAIR TO HELP THEM SPAWN AGAIN?

Put the pair back into the community tank of other adult discus. Then the pair will have the opportunity to bond again.

Give them tapeworms medication. If your discus pair has not spawned in a long time, tapeworms are a likely cause.

WHAT ARE METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE SUGGESTIONS?

When you try this article’s tips, be sure to keep track of which suggestions you try and the results you see. Feel free to try multiple suggestions at the same time. As long as you try these tips with a healthy breeding pair, your discus are very likely to spawn again!

Red Passion Discus with Spawn

QUESTIONS

• How can you make your breeding tank conducive to spawning?
• How can your discus’ diet impact their spawning?
• What are some reasons that a breeding pair might temporarily cease spawning?