discus hiding under driftwood

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Nimbus
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:20 pm

discus hiding under driftwood

Post by Nimbus »

My Discus have been hiding under the driftwood all day. They usually swim around more, but today they're just staying put. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate at 10 ppm. Tank is 75 gallons, temp at 84°F, and I've got a Fluval FX4 running. Anyone else seen this behavior?
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jiffix
Posts: 14
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2023 10:25 pm

Re: discus hiding under driftwood

Post by jiffix »

Yo, sounds sketchy. Check if the driftwood's got sharp edges or somethin'. Maybe they're just chillin', but if they're actin' weird, could be stress. What's the lighting like? Too bright might freak 'em out.
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maverick
Posts: 14
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2022 3:20 pm

Re: discus hiding under driftwood

Post by maverick »

I've seen this before. Could be a dominance thing if you've got multiple Discus. How many are in there? Also, when was the last water change? Sometimes they just need a fresh environment to perk up.
Bamda
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:16 pm

Re: discus hiding under driftwood

Post by Bamda »

Mine did that when I first added driftwood. Took 'em a few days to adjust. If everything else checks out, maybe give it time. What's your feeding routine like? Hungry fish might hide less.
Nimbus
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:20 pm

Re: discus hiding under driftwood

Post by Nimbus »

jiffix wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 9:54 am Yo, sounds sketchy. Check if the driftwood's got sharp edges or somethin'. Maybe they're just chillin', but if they're actin' weird, could be stress. What's the lighting like? Too bright might freak 'em out.
Thanks, I'll check the wood. Lighting's on a timer, 8 hours a day, but I'll dim it a bit to see if that helps.
pacer
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:07 pm

Re: discus hiding under driftwood

Post by pacer »

Mine hide when the tank's too crowded. You got other fish in there? Could be they're feelin' cramped. Also, what's the substrate? Sand's better for 'em, less stress on their bellies.
mander
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2024 8:41 pm

Re: discus hiding under driftwood

Post by mander »

I agree with Bamda. Sometimes it's just new tank decor. How long's the driftwood been in? If it's recent, they might need time. Also, what's your water change schedule? Regular changes can help reduce stress.
Boldy
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2022 7:30 am

Re: discus hiding under driftwood

Post by Boldy »

Mine did this when I switched to a new filter. The flow was too strong, freaked 'em out. Maybe check if the FX4's flow is too much? Discus like it calm, ya know?
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Limey
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2022 4:12 pm

Re: discus hiding under driftwood

Post by Limey »

Could be a pH swing. What's your pH at? Discus are sensitive to sudden changes. Also, any new tankmates? Sometimes new fish can throw off the vibe.
lyaka
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:16 pm

Re: discus hiding under driftwood

Post by lyaka »

This is common with new environments. Ensure the water's stable, temp's consistent, and there's no aggressive tankmates. How old are your Discus? Younger ones might hide more until they're comfortable.
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