Discus

This chap is the offspring of a RSG type female and a leopard male. Awesome red spotting on the body

 

@pHish_man, stuning.... the colours are really exquisite

 

Thanks Maria, yes he is a beaut. I hope to utilize him in my breeding program next season.

 

They look Really AWESOME!!!

Maybe one day . . . . .

 

Stunning! Did you get a new camera Andrew? Your photos look great.

 

Hi Broder

Thanks for the kind words once again.

Nah, im using my old Canon EOS 1000D. Will spoil myself with a new lens tho if I manage to sell some fish.....LOL

 

BEAUTIFUL!!! and awesome progress!

 

Tks Waleed

Here is a pic of 4 out of the 5 offspring from my Leopard/Red spotted cross. The other 4 fishes are 9bar off spring of my leopard/snakeskin cross

 

So at week 4.5, it seems like 90% are again showing dorsal deformities. One last attempt and then this pair is going to the pot!!

 

What deformities are they showing on the dorsal?

 

The dorsals are not developing at all in the front, only slightly at the back, almost like they are flat tops. Most unfortunate as the size of the spawn nears 150 which is great.

With the first spawn we initially thought this was due to a fluctuating pH during egg development, but with this second spawn I've managed to keep the pH constant with the same result. The next thing to eliminate is bacteria, so we are keeping things nice and clean in the tank.

Then the last option will be to set up a sump filter system and see if this improves matters. However I've raised spawns of other pairs in far less optimal conditions without having any deformities, so we will have to see what happens with the next spawn.

challenges of breeding discus.

 

Genetics would be my guess as well.

 

Yes im now leaning towards it being a genetic issue. If that is the case, then I will pair the female up with one of my RSG type males. In fact, I may do that anyway...

 

Hay Andrew

So whats happening to the RSG and spotted SS match up? have you tried it out yet or was it to late in the season?

Regards

Jason

 

Hi jason

ive allowed this same pair to spawn again and they currently have another batch of youngsters latched on at the moment. Much smaller number as I was out of town when they went free swimming and it seems quite a number of the fry were eaten by one of the parents. But the remaining number must be around 40 or so which is still good.

i will see if I can squeeze one more spawn out of her this season with the current male as there is something else I want to try before I partner her up with a different male next season. Then in the resting period I can condition her up again as all this activity has been a bit hard on her. It will then also give her time to find a new male.

will keep you posted.

 

Ok, latest batch are now free swimming 2 weeks tomorrow and it looks like we may have an improvement in terms of the dorsal deformity.....lets hope for the best.

Then I decided to chuck in 2 angel fry of a similar age into the tank with the discus babies, and it seems as though one of them has been accepted and is also eating off the parents. Lets see if he survives.

 

17 days old and looks like all dorsals are developing properly.

 

the little angel is still swimming with the group and is also now starting to look like an angel

 

Very nice! It's gonna be an angel with a serious superiority complex.