moving discus

[jim from sydney]

when discus have been moved about a little...i.e.....changed from shop to home....or....changed tanks/owners they obviously will go thru' a period of change......
for a known breeding pair, could this change be detrimental to breeding???? or could this change be delaying breeding habbits???? and if so how can we help to reduce these periods?? assuming that w/c are reasonably the same. :?: :?: Jim

[Merrilyn]

No simple answer to this one Jim. Yes it CAN slow breeding when you move a pair into the breeding tank from a community tank, but others will hardly skip a beat, and go straight to cleaning the breeding cone.

It's usually easier with established pairs that you already own. They are used to you, and the food your provide, so the effect of moving is minimal.

If you bring new pairs into your home, from either a shop or another breeder, it can take them several months to settle down, and begin breeding again. It depends how strong the pair bond is, and how comfortable they feel in their new environment. You can help by feeding them well, with live food if possible (brine shrimp) and a varied diet, and leaving the main tank lights off, so the tank is semi shaded. In the wild, they choose shaded spots for their eggs, never full sunlight.

The daily water changes, with an increase in good quality food should see them breeding again soon.