Snakeskin Discus Fry

Discussion in 'Breeding' started by Marco, Apr 18, 2011.

  1. Marco

    Marco Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    Messages:
    2,015
    Likes Received:
    286
    Location:
    Waverley Pretoria
    Hi Guys/gals

    So. . . after a two month seperation period my Snakeskin Discus spawned again last week monday. It was their 6th spawn and because all previous spawns resulted in egg or wrigglers being eaten I was more than just a little nervous. After some problems (tank sprang a leak on friday night which I hastily fixed and some wrigglers got stuck in the fungal growth on the dead eggs, I had to intervene. . .) the fry went free swimming in the early hours of Sunday morning. They are now on their second day and as the photo shows, they are happily grazing on the sides of mom and dad! I am more than just a little stoked as I was almost throwing in the towel with these guys. Unbelievable that the male nearly killed the female just over two months ago, and here they are as happy as a pig in poop!SS Pair with fry.jpg

    SS Pair with fry.jpg
     
  2. Guest




  3. Laracroft

    Laracroft

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2011
    Messages:
    253
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Strubensvalley - Roodepoort
    GREAT, finally they behaved themselves:)
     
  4. pHish_man

    pHish_man Discus

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2011
    Messages:
    1,402
    Likes Received:
    50
    Location:
    Somerset West
    Well done Marco

    Quick question, is there any specific reason as to why you place your heater horizontal near the tank base?

    Andrew
     
  5. Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Messages:
    8,465
    Likes Received:
    119
    Location:
    Jhb- Fourways
    Hi Andrew,

    I'll answer this one for Marco...
    If you thing about hot air, it rises... well hot water does the same. Now, 99.9% of heaters are designed with the element in the glass tube at the bottom, and the thermostat control at the top. When the hot water at the base of the heater get's hot, it rises, and passes over the thermostat. The thermostat now interprets that the water is at the desired temperature, and turns off... where in actual fact, only the litre or so of water in the direct proximity of the heater is warm. Thus a heater situated in a vertical position will work on and off more frequently than a heater horizontally. Most heater manuals do not mentions this directly, but will usually say something to the effect that the water needs to be constantly moving. So it you really want to have the heater sitting vertically, I always advice to have a lot of water current around the heater.

    Back to topic...

    Nice fish there @Marco.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  6. OP
    Marco

    Marco Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    Messages:
    2,015
    Likes Received:
    286
    Location:
    Waverley Pretoria
    @pHish_man

    I place it near the bottom so the warm water which rise has to travel as much as possible to the surface. In my mind this creates a small current which helps prevent cold patches in the tank as there is very little circulation apart from the air driven sponge filter. (adding to what @Zoom explained about lack of circulation) I would also not place it vertically as it can easily become a spawning site with "fried discus egg" the nett result.

    I do believe manufacturers nowadays indicate heaters to be positioned like this on the packaging, or am I wrong?

    @Laracroft

    Yes, FINALLY they behaved! Hard work for the next couple of weeks for me. . .
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  7. hein24

    hein24 Betta

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    Messages:
    1,441
    Likes Received:
    15
    Location:
    Roodepoort
    Wow @Marco you must be very proud, congrats man from what I've heard, it's not easy keeping these guys.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  8. Vis

    Vis Gerhard

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2009
    Messages:
    6,130
    Likes Received:
    131
    Location:
    Rustenburg
    Glad they resolved their issues :) and get them big quickly.

    Actually bought a heater the other day and it showed it must be vertical and a picture showing it
    should not be horizontal. The heater might have been in the shop for some time though.
     
  9. duewyne

    duewyne

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Edenvale
    well done guy :)
     
  10. OP
    Marco

    Marco Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    Messages:
    2,015
    Likes Received:
    286
    Location:
    Waverley Pretoria
    Tx Guys

    @hein24 - more relieved and glad than proud. Will be proud if and when they are grown and healthy!

    @Vis - I wouldnt know, been too long since bying a heater. There is no way I'm putting it in vertically though, learnt that lesson. Got your plans by the way. Will scan mine this week and mail to you.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  11. pHish_man

    pHish_man Discus

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2011
    Messages:
    1,402
    Likes Received:
    50
    Location:
    Somerset West
    Ok, Jager instructions recommend placing heater vertical in aquarium where water flow is brisk. So with a tank of low flow using sponge filters only, the law of convection makes sense.

    Marco, were these parent fish obtained from Altum?
     
  12. OP
    Marco

    Marco Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    Messages:
    2,015
    Likes Received:
    286
    Location:
    Waverley Pretoria
    Hi

    @pHish_man

    Nope. The female I have had from young age. Bought at LPS. Male I bought in a group from a friend who in turn took them as a batch from the breeder when he lost the parents. I took 6 and he kept 4. My six the only ones left. . . This male has a very high body in relation to his length, if you can see that in pic. The male is to the right in photo. I was so glad the first time they spawned as I really want to see how many fry inherit that high body trait
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  13. pHish_man

    pHish_man Discus

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2011
    Messages:
    1,402
    Likes Received:
    50
    Location:
    Somerset West
    Approximate age of these two?
     
  14. TomK

    TomK

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2011
    Messages:
    1,552
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    Klerksdorp
    Seems like a lot of heater suppliers advise not to place them horizontal. Mine also show pictures of the right and wrong way. Their right way is at a 45 deg angle.

    I wonder why flat is not advised? Marco is clearly getting away with it. Or maybe they mean, do not lay it flat on substrate, which I can understand.
     
  15. OP
    Marco

    Marco Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    Messages:
    2,015
    Likes Received:
    286
    Location:
    Waverley Pretoria
    Female 2 years, male about 16 mths. male hatched January last year, female was an import so it really is a guess according to size and the time i have had her

    @Tom.K

    I also dont understand that reasoning, but in all my breeding tanks they are positioned like this and i have never had a problem, temp constant ot 30'C
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  16. Vis

    Vis Gerhard

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2009
    Messages:
    6,130
    Likes Received:
    131
    Location:
    Rustenburg
    Marco is this the only ones you got breeding at the moment?
     
  17. OP
    Marco

    Marco Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    Messages:
    2,015
    Likes Received:
    286
    Location:
    Waverley Pretoria
    @Vis

    Nope, also have Brilliant Turq's that should spawn in a day or two. They are by far my most reliable pair but unfortunately, their spawns yeild very small amounts of fry, 15 to 20 only to start with, and then I still have to cull and select, so 10 is good going per spawn with them.
    Then, I took the plunge and moved the Blue Diamonds to a breeding tank yesterday, so
    I'll wait and see what they do, and next up I'll be moving my favourite's, lets for practical reasons call them "Domestic Madeira Type Royal Blue's" to a breeder next week hopefully. these are stunning fish, golden yellow to mahogany background with typical Royal blue markings across the body, and the ever prominent thicker 5th bar as seen in some Royal blue's that originate from the Rio Madeira region. i did post a pic of them in "Post your cichlid" thread I think. They are by far my favourite's
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  18. Vis

    Vis Gerhard

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2009
    Messages:
    6,130
    Likes Received:
    131
    Location:
    Rustenburg
    Yeah those are stunning fish, remember the pic. Seems like you have some work ahead :)
     
  19. salim

    salim Passionate about Discus

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2010
    Messages:
    100
    Likes Received:
    9
    Hey Marco well done in what size tank are you housing them ?
     
  20. mattie

    mattie

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2010
    Messages:
    786
    Likes Received:
    44
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Congratulations Marco
     
  21. OP
    Marco

    Marco Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    Messages:
    2,015
    Likes Received:
    286
    Location:
    Waverley Pretoria
    Thank you @mattie @salim

    @salim - These are kept in a 60 x 50 x 50 Tank. I dont fill it to the brim though so I'd say they have about 100liters of water.
    Others I breed in a standard three foot (works for pair) and the smallest I use is a standard two foot. The smaller space may seem cramped but with less fry it makes finding the parents easier.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016

Recent Posts

Loading...
Similar Threads - Snakeskin Discus Forum Date
Where to buy Leopard or Snakeskin discus in Cape Town? General Discus discussions Jul 25, 2013
DISCUS - Gold Leorpard Snakeskin Pigeon Fish pics Jun 22, 2012
My Barless Snakeskin Discus. . .now Cichlids Oct 12, 2011
Baby Snakeskin Blue Diamond discus Cichlids Jun 23, 2010
Snakeskin discus Cichlids Oct 29, 2009
Guppies- Snakeskin questions? General Discussions Apr 28, 2017
Guppy challenge - Entry 1: Snakeskin Guppy challenge Sep 24, 2015

Share This Page