How Often do Discus Fish Lay Eggs?
Most discus fish pairs will lay eggs every 6-8 days, only if their eggs don’t hatch or they refuse to care for the fry.
This is how often you can expect your discus fish to lay eggs during breeding. This means you’ll have to encounter large quantities of eggs at once, and potentially large quantities of fish, too.
Of course, you’ll still need to wait before the eggs hatch, which will take anywhere between 3-4 days normally.
If you’re looking to control the population of discus fish, this is the time you should take action. Sometimes, the discus fish will also consume their own eggs, so that’s a measure that will happen automatically, even if you’ll want to control the population yourself.
The good news is that the discus fish will take great care of their eggs and their spawn once they get spawned. You won’t have to do too much because there’s not that much you can do. The only thing you should make sure during this period is that the parameters are optimal for the fish.
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how often discus fish lay eggs, what you need to do, and how you can make the process easier for the fish.
Where Do Discus Fish Lay Eggs in a Fish Tank?
Normally, you will see discus fish lay their eggs onto any surface that’s even and where it is possible for the eggs to stick. This includes leaves, walls of the tank, and other even surfaces, and sometimes even on the plants and roots or other obstacles in the tank such as rocks.
So you can expect to find the eggs in these areas. They will be seen quite clearly, as they have a very slimy appearance and you’ll be able to spot them automatically.
If you don’t want to have eggs laid all over the tank, then there is one great solution for this: you can buy a good breeding cone for your discus fish.
This U.P. Aqua Ceramic Spawning Cone is a great option if you have discus fish. It has a very smooth surface which will enable the fish to lay eggs on it easily. It will also help you increase the rate of reproduction.
Another great thing about this cone is that it has a filtration function for your tank, so it will also actively clean your water when you put it into the tank.
It’s made of durable plastic, so it will not crack very easily. Plus, the terracotta color is one that’s preferred by discus fish, so it will attract them.
What to do if Your Discus Spawned?
If your discus spawn in your tank, there’s not really much you can do, because you won’t have to do too much.
That’s because the discus fish will do everything that’s needed to keep their spawn healthy and will provide and care for them, too.
So the only thing you will need to do is to take great care when it comes to proper water parameters. Make sure the water temperature is right, and the acidity is also in the optimal levels. Filter the water strongly, and consider changing the water (but only small amounts of water).
You’ll need to do everything you can to keep your water and tank clean and optimal for your fish during this period. Sometimes, it also means you’ll need to get a heater to keep the water as warm as possible, which increases the chance of successful breeding.
How Many Eggs do Discus Fish Lay at a Time?
Discus fish are known for laying a lot of eggs at one time. The female will lay up to 400 eggs altogether, and it will lay slightly less eggs at once (50-100).
With this large surge of laying eggs, you can expect your tank to get crowded pretty fast. Again, it’s important to both clean your water regularly but also make sure there is a safe place for the fish to lay these eggs.
Small fish will lay fewer eggs, while larger fish are almost always guaranteed to lay 300 eggs or more, and all the way up to 400 eggs.
Do Discus Fish Eat Their Own Eggs?
Yes, discus fish will eat their own eggs, which is actually quite common with almost every fish species.
This will especially happen if the eggs are contaminated, or if they are not successfully fertilized. In that case, the fish will eat their own eggs, so don’t be surprised to see that.
But don’t worry too much about it. It’s their own way of making sure their offspring are healthy. If you want to give the eggs a chance, you can remove the fish, but you must know the fish are eating only the eggs that are not beneficial to them and to the breeding process.
How Long Will It Take for Discus Fish Eggs to Hatch?
You can expect the eggs to hatch in about 3-4 days, depending on the conditions. Sometimes, it can take an extra day, but rarely will you see the eggs hatch earlier than that.
At this point in time, you will need to keep a close eye on the water parameters and the tank conditions. You need to be absolutely sure the tank is prepared for the incoming fish that are spawning.
Ideally, you’ll do well to put them in a separate breeding tank, although many fish owners have had good success by keeping them in the same tank provided there is enough space for all the newly spawned fish.
Also, make sure the hatched fish are safe from any potential predators and larger fish.
Conclusion
Most of the discus fish will lay eggs in about 6-8 days after breeding. Then it will take an extra 3-4 days for these eggs to spawn, and you’ll have yourself a great little batch of new discus fish.
Take good care of the water and the fish, and they’ll reward you well in the future!
