Brew's old guy tank

[Charlyc11]

Nice going Al lot's of good ones so far.

[brewmaster15]

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

The old boy still is fertile after 7 years! And the pair is intently guarding the wigglers... absolutely zero signs of in fighting .. I have a real good feeling on this. Hopefully once they go freeswimming the pair will parent well

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Not too shabby.. about 50% hatchrate.. maybe 50 fry. First spawn for this pair.. I am very Happy.

[Second Hand Pat]

Super happy for you Al and this pair. Hope the free swimming and attachment goes well
Pat

[Red Eye.]

What water para,s you drop too....and do you add any chemicals to help the eggs.

[AquaticNerd]

Happy happy happy!

Like like like!!!

[brewmaster15]

What water para,s you drop too....and do you add any chemicals to help the eggs.

Im using a Ro water/ tap water( sourced from my well) mix here. Water was 75 ppm tds.. pH I dont usually measure but guessing low 7s. I did nothing to treat the eggs here though I often will use some methylene blue...I did not here.

Al

[LizStreithorst]

I never doubted the old guy. Congratulations, Al.

[Jandiscus]

Very cool to see this.

[brewmaster15]

The fry have gone free swimming and theres no sign of parents eating them ... they are doing what they are supposed to. Dropped the water down to the parents back and hoping for the best. By the time they went swimming the batch shrunk abit so Im not really sure how far this will go. I think it was a good first run but It probably will not be a total success..more like a stepping stone.

If it was easy it would be boring.

[Second Hand Pat]

This is still a nice first step Al whether or not if you have fry from this batch. Hopefully just gets better from here
Pat

[brewmaster15]

I agree Pat. I am really happy by the pair bond here and honestly the fact that such an old discus is still able to fertilize eggs is an amazing and interesting fact.

We know that most domestic pairs fade out in 2-3 years of breeding. But we also know that males tend to mature slower. Often a good hatchery strategy is to pair up older males with young females. I think my experience here with this pair has added quite a bit to our knowledge base.

It makes sense really. In the animal world its very common that the older,stronger, more fit male is the one to breed... up to the point they are dethroned.

Either way i hope some attach. If they do and Its a small number the pair will probably lay again soon. I may also intervene and remove the fry to raise and encourage the pair to try again.

[LizStreithorst]

We're used to the males to be young and stupid. This time it's likely the female who's young and stupid. She'll get it right with time.

[brewmaster15]

So. .. today started lack luster at best.. the fry were all over the place. The male had them kind of coraled in the corner. I did not think they would attach before they used up their yolk sacs .. i have a bunch of fry foods here for various critters so I decided to try adding some to the water..maybe buy more time. I added some Sera Micron fry food which by the color and label is largely spirullina.

No idea if it really helped but.. fry are attached now. .. Not a huge bunch but if they make it the night I will be happy...pics when I can safely take some.

[brewmaster15]

Update on this spawn.

So last night must have been a tough one. The male really tore up her fins. Today the pair seems ok. The fry are attached but not as good as they should. The male is super aggressive as well. If I go near the tank he charges and actually hits the glass. I think he is frustrated lol.

No idea where this will go but I probably will put a wire divider in so she can heal.

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This proving more challenging than a simple "is he fertile still" but I guess thats the challenge of breeding discus.

Sometimes first spawns go great.. other times not so much!

[Second Hand Pat]

Oh boy Al, a hair pulling exercise. Do you think mom was perhaps eating the fry and dad took exception?
Pat