How to Raise Discus Fish Eggs

Discus fish, named so because of their flat, rounded shape, are beautiful additons to any aquarium. Discus fish are members of the cichlid family, and are desirable pets that can raised and bred for profit. Breeding discus can be a great hobby. It is often a challenge for beginners, but is not too difficult for fish keepers with reasonable experience. As of 2010, discus fish can retail for about $50 a fish or more.

Things You'll Need

  • Water pH test kit
  • Aquarium thermometer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Keep the water temperature between 74 and 82 degrees during the time the eggs are laid, approximating their native Amazon environment. Allow the discus parents to remove any unfertilized eggs and provide the eggs with proper oxygen through swimming movement.

    • 2

      Keep the water temperature steady until the eggs hatch, which typically takes between two and three days. Maintain the pH, too, keeping it between 6.1 and 7.5, as discus eggs need soft water to hatch. One way of keeping the aquarium pH water balanced is to mix equal parts tap water with distilled bottled water. The bottled water contains no chemicals--not even chlorine--and is acidic enough for the purpose.

    • 3

      Allow the fry to remain housed with the parents for the first three weeks. This is because for about three weeks after the fry have eaten through their yolk sacs, they will feed on substances the parent fish produce in their skin slime. Feed them frozen or live brine shrimp after the nursing period. You should have juvenile discus the size of dimes about three months after hatching.