Who Gives A Fish Forums

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!