Who Gives A Fish Forums

Just got my first batch of Discus fry, about 2 weeks old. Been feeding them baby brine shrimp 3 times a day but they don't seem to be growing as fast as I expected. Tank is a 20 gallon, sponge filter, temp at 84F, pH 6.8. Anyone got a solid feeding schedule that worked for them?

Skyline, I've raised a few batches and found that feeding 5-6 times a day works better for growth. Baby brine shrimp is good, but you gotta mix in some finely crushed flakes or powdered fry food. Also, keep up with daily 20% water changes, they're super sensitive to water quality at this stage.

Agree with vital on the frequent feedings. I do 6 small meals a day, alternating between baby brine shrimp, microworms, and a homemade beef heart paste. Tank's at 86F, and I've noticed faster growth with the higher temp. Just make sure your filtration can handle the extra food.

Yo, my fry went nuts when I started adding a bit of egg yolk to their diet. Just mash it up real fine and drop it in. But don't overdo it, that stuff can mess with your water quality quick. Tank's a 30 gallon, bare bottom for easy cleaning.

How often are you guys cleaning the tank with all that feeding? I'm paranoid about ammonia spikes. My fry are in a 15 gallon, sponge filter, and I'm doing 30% water changes every other day.

wilde wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 12:50 pm How often are you guys cleaning the tank with all that feeding? I'm paranoid about ammonia spikes. My fry are in a 15 gallon, sponge filter, and I'm doing 30% water changes every other day.

I do 50% daily changes, no exceptions. Fry are super sensitive, and leftover food decays fast. Also, skip the egg yolk, Hawk, it's sketchy for water quality.

I'm new to this too, but my LFS recommended a mix of baby brine shrimp and powdered spirulina. Fry seem to like it, and it's easier to clean up than beef heart. Tank's a 25 gallon, planted, with a canister filter.

What's the ideal temp for fry? Mine are at 82F, but I'm hearing mixed things. Also, how long do you keep them on baby brine shrimp before switching to bigger foods?

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna bump up the feedings to 5 times a day and try mixing in some powdered food. Also gonna up the water changes to daily. Appreciate the help!

Gnatto wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 4:14 pm What's the ideal temp for fry? Mine are at 82F, but I'm hearing mixed things. Also, how long do you keep them on baby brine shrimp before switching to bigger foods?

84-86F is best for growth. I switch to crushed flakes and small pellets around 4-6 weeks, but keep the brine shrimp in the mix for variety.