hi all

there are a few tips on breeding taken from the book ( Discus The Naked Truth )
By Andrew Soh




TOP OPENING

The brooders may feel vulnerable and stressed if the top of the tank is opened. It is advisable for the top tank of any multiple tiers to be covered. As for all breeding tanks, it is crucial to have the top covered at least 10cm inward if not fully. Discus are known to jump when stressed, disturbed or frightened, and they do it from the side of the tank, very seldom from the center. Make sure to take this precaution to avoid regrets. It seems that it is always the largest and the most beautiful that jumps out? I share the same experience with many other veterans. I do not know why it is always so. Bad luck? Maybe bigger discus has more strength to propel higher.


LIGHTING

Best to have an overall soft lighting inside the breeding room that is switched on 24 hours a day. If you prefer, you can have a small blue bulb hung over each breeding tank. This will enable you to switch the light on after spawning, so that in the night, the brooder could see the eggs or fry better and pick up any fry that might have dropped to the bottom or wandered away. Another advantage for having such lighting at night is for the new fry to search, stay with and feed on their parents when the need arises.


SHADOWS


All lightings, be it natural or man-made, should not cast any shadow in the tank. Discus are generally shy. Brooders will take such dark areas as safe haven and will try to hide there. This will result in delayed spawning, lower fertilization rate as the male may be stressed or young males reluctant to move out of the shade to spawn.
Even during nursing, parents tend to stay within the shade, refusing to move out to feed. They will however try to catch any fry that tries to swim away. But to those that wandering too far, they are left on their own. Some may die off as a result.


Breeding object


Providing an object as a site or substrate for spawning is ideal. It will encourage spawning. No doubt there are some discus that prefer to spawn on glass panel, be it side or bottom of the tank, these are the minority. It is still advisable to leave the substrate in.
Breeding substrate is not confined to only Amazon plant, vase or flowerpot. As long as it can stand firmly by itself in the tank, is non-corrosive or does not have a tendency to leach toxin, it should work


thats just a few tips taken from the book and i hope they can help you


excel