Why discus fry stop eating?

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Chili
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2024 12:57 am

Why discus fry stop eating?

Post by Chili »

My discus fry stopped eating a few days ago. They're in a 40-gallon tank, temp at 84°F, pH 6.5, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. I've been feeding them baby brine shrimp and crushed flakes twice a day. No recent tank changes, sponge filter running smooth. Any ideas?
brites
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Aug 03, 2023 2:33 am

Re: Why discus fry stop eating?

Post by brites »

Could be stress from water changes if you're doing them too frequently. How often are you changing the water? Also, try switching to live food like microworms. They might just be picky.
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Dubson
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2023 4:17 pm

Re: Why discus fry stop eating?

Post by Dubson »

Yo, sounds like they're just being fussy. Mine did the same thing last month. I cut back on water changes to once a week, 20%, and they started chowing down again. Maybe they just need a chill vibe.
Silvan
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:16 pm

Re: Why discus fry stop eating?

Post by Silvan »

Mine stopped eating when I added new plants. Maybe check if anything's off with the decor? Also, try garlic guard on the food, works like a charm sometimes.
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Jazzman
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2022 9:14 pm

Re: Why discus fry stop eating?

Post by Jazzman »

Dubson wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:48 am Yo, sounds like they're just being fussy. Mine did the same thing last month. I cut back on water changes to once a week, 20%, and they started chowing down again. Maybe they just need a chill vibe.
I agree with Dubson. Over-cleaning can stress them out. Also, check the flow from your sponge filter. Too strong might make them uneasy.
angelus
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:23 am

Re: Why discus fry stop eating?

Post by angelus »

Dude, mine were the same until I switched to frozen bloodworms. They're lazy eaters sometimes. Also, make sure the tank's not too bright. Dim the lights a bit, see if that helps.
Chili
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2024 12:57 am

Re: Why discus fry stop eating?

Post by Chili »

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll try reducing water changes and dimming the lights. Gonna grab some frozen bloodworms too.
Coastal
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2024 10:42 am

Re: Why discus fry stop eating?

Post by Coastal »

Had a similar issue last year. Turned out my tap water had trace metals after the city did some work. Started using RO water, and they perked right up. Might be worth testing your source water.
brites
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Aug 03, 2023 2:33 am

Re: Why discus fry stop eating?

Post by brites »

Coastal wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 8:07 am Had a similar issue last year. Turned out my tap water had trace metals after the city did some work. Started using RO water, and they perked right up. Might be worth testing your source water.
That's a good point. Also, check if your water conditioner is expired. I've seen that mess with fish appetite before.
Darego
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:43 pm

Re: Why discus fry stop eating?

Post by Darego »

Mine stopped eating when I moved their tank to a busier part of the house. Too much foot traffic freaked them out. Maybe they just need a quieter spot.
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