can discus eat flake food?

[Sunnyday]

I've been feeding my Discus a mix of frozen bloodworms and pellets, but I'm curious if flake food is okay for them. They're in a 75-gallon tank with sand substrate, driftwood, and a few Amazon swords. Water params are stable, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate, pH 6.8. Temp's at 84°F with a Fluval heater. Anyone have experience with flakes?

[Jumper]

Flakes can work, but they're not the best long-term option. I've used TetraMin flakes occasionally, but my fish prefer pellets or frozen. Make sure the flakes sink fast enough, or they'll just float and get ignored. My tank's got a canister filter, and I do 30% water changes twice a week.

[novaby]

Flakes can work, but they're not the best long-term option. I've used TetraMin flakes occasionally, but my fish prefer pellets or frozen. Make sure the flakes sink fast enough, or they'll just float and get ignored. My tank's got a canister filter, and I do 30% water changes twice a week.

Agreed. Flakes lack the protein content Discus need. I'd stick to high-quality pellets like Hikari Bio-Gold or frozen beef heart mix. My group's in a 120-gallon with CO2-injected plants, and they're thriving on this diet. Water changes are 50% weekly, and I dose Seachem Equilibrium for minerals.

[BoldOne]

Yep, flakes are kinda meh for these guys. Mine won't even look at 'em unless they're starving. I've had better luck with freeze-dried blackworms as a treat. Tank's a 55-gallon with a sponge filter, and I keep the lights low to reduce stress. Oh, and temp's at 86°F 'cause my crew's still juvies.

[Haven]

I tried flakes once, but my Discus just spit 'em out. Maybe it's the brand? I use New Life Spectrum pellets now, and they go nuts for 'em. Tank's got a bare bottom, which makes cleanup easier, and I run a UV sterilizer to keep things clear. Water changes are 25% every five days.

[sealine]

Flakes are a no-go for my group too. They're picky eaters, so I stick to frozen brine shrimp and Omega One pellets. Tank's a 90-gallon with a sump, and I keep the pH at 6.5 with peat in the filter. Lighting's on for eight hours a day, and I've got some floating plants to dim it a bit.

[Sunnyday]

Thanks for the input, everyone. Sounds like flakes aren't worth the hassle. I'll stick to what's working and maybe try some freeze-dried treats like BoldOne suggested. Appreciate the advice!

[novaby]

Glad to help. Just remember, consistency's key with these fish. If you're gonna switch foods, do it gradually over a week or so. My tank's got a mix of adults and juvies, and they all respond better to slow changes. Oh, and keep an eye on their poop—weird vibes there can mean digestion issues.

[BoldOne]

Glad to help. Just remember, consistency's key with these fish. If you're gonna switch foods, do it gradually over a week or so. My tank's got a mix of adults and juvies, and they all respond better to slow changes. Oh, and keep an eye on their poop—weird vibes there can mean digestion issues.

For real. My crew's poop game is strong when the diet's right. I also add a pinch of epsom salt to the water during changes to keep things moving. Tank's got a bunch of corydoras as cleanup crew, and they're chill with the setup.