Why discus eggs get eaten?

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FairyFish
Posts: 57
Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2022 6:46 pm

Why discus eggs get eaten?

Post by FairyFish »

My discus laid eggs for the first time, but they got eaten within a day. What's the deal? Tank's a 75-gallon, pH 6.8, temp 82°F, weekly 30% water changes. Got some tetras and corys in there too. They're about a year old, fed twice daily with flakes and frozen bloodworms. Substrate's sand, sponge filter running. Plants are java fern and anubias. Heater's a Fluval M300. No recent changes except a new light, but that was a month ago. Just weird vibes, y'know?
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foxcape
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Joined: Sat Jun 08, 2024 12:53 am

Re: Why discus eggs get eaten?

Post by foxcape »

First-time parents, huh? They're probably just stressed or inexperienced. My pair did the same thing their first few spawns. Tankmates might be sketchy too, tetras can be sneaky egg snatchers. Try a divider or breeding cone next time, gives 'em a better shot. Also, beef heart mix ups their diet, might help with parenting instincts. Dunno, just spitballing here.
Seadog
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Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2023 1:00 pm

Re: Why discus eggs get eaten?

Post by Seadog »

foxcape wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 1:14 am First-time parents, huh? They're probably just stressed or inexperienced. My pair did the same thing their first few spawns. Tankmates might be sketchy too, tetras can be sneaky egg snatchers. Try a divider or breeding cone next time, gives 'em a better shot. Also, beef heart mix ups their diet, might help with parenting instincts. Dunno, just spitballing here.
Agreed. Inexperience is common. I'd also check ammonia and nitrite levels—even if they're zero, nitrate buildup can stress them. My 90-gallon has similar params, but I do 40% water changes weekly. Sponge filters are great, but add a HOB for extra flow. They'll get the hang of it after a few tries.
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Blaze
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Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2024 10:31 pm

Re: Why discus eggs get eaten?

Post by Blaze »

Yo, my discus ate their eggs too, but then I cranked the temp to 84°F and bam, next batch hatched. Maybe yours just need a lil' heat boost? Also, cut the lights for a couple days, makes 'em chill. Tank's got driftwood? Mine love it, dunno if it helps but looks cool.
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SunDay
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Re: Why discus eggs get eaten?

Post by SunDay »

Egg predation's multifactorial. First, confirm the parents are a bonded pair—sometimes one's just not into it. Second, tetras are notorious for egg raids. I'd relocate them temporarily. Third, diet's key: add more protein like blackworms or brine shrimp. My 120-gallon's discus breed monthly now, same params as yours but with RO water. Patience pays off.
gold
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:20 pm

Re: Why discus eggs get eaten?

Post by gold »

Ain't no thang, happens all the time. Just let 'em vibe, they'll figure it out. My crew took three tries before they got it right. Tank's smaller than yours, 55-gallon, but same deal with plants and sand. Fed 'em pellets mostly, some freeze-dried stuff. No biggie.
Swiftsea
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:16 pm

Re: Why discus eggs get eaten?

Post by Swiftsea »

SunDay wrote: Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:16 am Egg predation's multifactorial. First, confirm the parents are a bonded pair—sometimes one's just not into it. Second, tetras are notorious for egg raids. I'd relocate them temporarily. Third, diet's key: add more protein like blackworms or brine shrimp. My 120-gallon's discus breed monthly now, same params as yours but with RO water. Patience pays off.
Solid advice. I'd also test for TDS—high levels can trigger egg abandonment. My pair ignored their first spawns until I got TDS under 150 ppm. Now they're prolific. RO water's a game-changer, but remineralize properly. Keep us posted!
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FairyFish
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Re: Why discus eggs get eaten?

Post by FairyFish »

Thanks, all! Gonna try the temp bump and beef heart first. Maybe move the tetras to my 20-gallon for a bit. Appreciate the tips!
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