Why discus eggs don't develop?

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taieta
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2024 7:16 am

Why discus eggs don't develop?

Post by taieta »

I've been breeding Discus for a while now, but lately, the eggs just aren't developing. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate under 10 ppm. Temp's at 84°F, pH 6.5, and I do 30% water changes every other day. They're in a 75-gallon tank with a sponge filter and a canister. Parents are healthy, eating beef heart and frozen brine shrimp. Any ideas what's going wrong?
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Luckykeeper
Posts: 31
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:35 am

Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?

Post by Luckykeeper »

Sounds like you've got the basics covered. Have you checked the TDS? Sometimes high TDS can mess with egg development. Also, how old are the parents? Younger pairs might take a few tries to get it right. My first pair didn't have viable eggs until their third spawn.
boldo
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Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2022 10:04 am

Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?

Post by boldo »

taieta wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 9:58 am I've been breeding Discus for a while now, but lately, the eggs just aren't developing. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate under 10 ppm. Temp's at 84°F, pH 6.5, and I do 30% water changes every other day. They're in a 75-gallon tank with a sponge filter and a canister. Parents are healthy, eating beef heart and frozen brine shrimp. Any ideas what's going wrong?
You might wanna cut back on the water changes. Too frequent changes can stress them out, especially if the new water isn't perfectly matched. Try weekly changes and see if that helps.
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ameRio
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Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2024 12:14 pm

Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?

Post by ameRio »

Yo, could be the parents are just picky. Mine didn't get it right until I switched to RO water. Also, maybe the tank's too bright? They like it dim when spawning. I threw in some floating plants and boom, eggs for days.
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Playful
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 12:42 am

Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?

Post by Playful »

Agree with the TDS and lighting points. Another thing to check is the male's fertility. Sometimes they're just not up to the task. You can try introducing a different male if you've got one. Also, how's the water flow? Too much current can wash away the sperm before fertilization happens.
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Hartan
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Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2024 9:01 am

Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?

Post by Hartan »

Dude, same thing happened to me. Turned out my heater was sketchy, temp was swinging like crazy at night. Got a new one with a digital controller and bam, eggs started hatching. Maybe check your heater's consistency?
taieta
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Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2024 7:16 am

Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?

Post by taieta »

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll test the TDS and try reducing water changes. The male's been successful before, but I'll keep an eye on him. Appreciate the help!
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Magus
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Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2023 8:05 am

Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?

Post by Magus »

Hartan wrote: Thu Aug 28, 2025 2:45 pm Dude, same thing happened to me. Turned out my heater was sketchy, temp was swinging like crazy at night. Got a new one with a digital controller and bam, eggs started hatching. Maybe check your heater's consistency?
Temp swings are a killer. I'd also suggest checking for any stray voltage in the tank. Had a friend lose a whole spawn because of a faulty pump leaking current.
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bajil
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Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2022 5:26 am

Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?

Post by bajil »

Might be worth trying a different food mix. I added some spirulina to my beef heart recipe and noticed better egg quality. Also, how's the tank's bio load? Overcrowding can stress them out even if params look good.
Darego
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Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:43 pm

Re: Why discus eggs don't develop?

Post by Darego »

I've heard some folks say adding a bit of tannins helps. Could try some almond leaves or peat in the filter. Makes the water softer and more natural for them.
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