Need discus help

mab

Members
The wild discus I brought back from the Rio Nanay in Peru don't seem to be eating. I've tried live earthworms (whole & chopped up), a variety of frozen foods, and even had the tank swarming with shrimp.

I'm concerned - any suggestions?
 

mscichlid

Founder
Blackworms will usually get them to eat. Also, with many fish, having them in a tank with fish that eat flake and all the other stuff you offer helps getting them to eat.
 

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Plenipotentiary-at-large
For what it's worth...

...three of the four juvenile discus I brought home from the auction when we had the discus speaker a few months back went off their feed so I moved them to a larger tank. That did it for two of them, but the other one didn't respond until today when I had blackworms to offer for the first time in many weeks.

Luck.
 

YSS

Members
With discus, sometimes it takes time. It's not uncommon for discus to not eat for over two weeks in anew environment. May be they are not happy with the new environment. Not sure what you can do to make them feel more comfortable, but once they are settle in and feel comfortable they should start eating. What temp are the discus in? May be you can raise the temp and see if that helps. May be you can reach out to Hans and see if he has any suggestions. Hope they start eating soon. Having been disus keeper for several years, I know how it feels when your discus are not eating. Good luck!
 

mab

Members
Suggestions please

Blackworms will usually get them to eat. Also, with many fish, having them in a tank with fish that eat flake and all the other stuff you offer helps getting them to eat.

I'll get some blackworms.

What other fish do you suggest that I move into the tank with them?
 

mab

Members
Tetras and corys are a sure bet.

Already have corys in the tank - they are doing a good cleanup job with all the food the discus aren't eating. I do have a number of tetras that are already eating flake. I'll move a few to the discus tank. Thank you for that suggestion.
 

mscichlid

Founder
I hope it helps. The discus will eventually eat when they get hungry, but I understand that you don't want them to have to go through that due to their capture and shipping ordeal.
 

mab

Members
I hope it helps. The discus will eventually eat when they get hungry, but I understand that you don't want them to have to go through that due to their capture and shipping ordeal.

Thank you - had six and only four shipped. Started with one beautiful red-spotted green and five commons (that's the term the fishermen use for them.) Still have the red-spotted green and three browns. I want them to survive and prosper so the advice is really appreciated.

I haven't had discus since the late seventies so this is (re)new(ed) territory for me.
 

Avatar

Plenipotentiary-at-large
What other fish do you suggest that I move into the tank with them?

Temporarily and to render aid, ideally anything that will easily fit in their mouths. Nothing like the prospect of predation to get the blood circulating.
 

Ophelia77

Members
The wild angels eventually went for frozen blood worms (Thawed out of course). Now they have ventured into beefheart flake and soft krill pellets as well. They haven't touched live shrimp or even BBS yet, but at least they are eating something now.
 
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