How we prepared our breeding room from the moment we started artificially breeding the must rare Wild Discus.
The transition to artificial reproduction radically changes the dynamics of the rearing room. The focus shifts from observing the behavior of the pair to microbiological control, parameter stability, and daily management logistics.
1. Water Parameters and Treatment
Conductivity: Maintain between 100 and 200 µS/cm to ensure the fertilization rate and proper eggshell development.
pH: Maintain stable between 5.5 and 6.2.
Temperature: 27°C to 28°C constant.
System Filtration: Use air pumps with diffusers. Strong water flows should be completely discarded to avoid disturbing larval adhesion or manual collection.
2. Incubation Station and Artificial Rearing
Specific Equipment/Functions of Resources
Incubation Containers: Plastic or large (10 liters) containers dedicated exclusively to each brood.
Water bath: Modules with water heated to 28°C where the incubation containers float, ensuring a uniform temperature and preventing cross-contamination. Microaerators: Diffuser stone adjusted for microbubbles (5 to 10 bubbles per second) away from the cone, for gentle circulation only.
3. Hygiene and Biosecurity Protocol
Daily sterilization: All pipetting tubes, nets, and containers should be washed with a disinfectant solution (e.g., potassium permanganate or 70° alcohol) and rinsed with reverse osmosis water before use.
Fungal control: Have stock solutions of Methylene Blue or specific antifungal compounds prepared to apply to the incubation container in the first 24 to 48 hours after laying.
Separation of utensils: Each breeding container should have its own cleaning pipette to prevent the transfer of pathogens between chicks of different ages.
4. Food Chain Preparation
Sequential Artemia Incubator: Set up a sequential hatching system (3 to 4 flasks/modules) to ensure the hatching of Artemia nauplii every 6 to 8 hours, starting on the 4th/5th day of free swimming.
Mucus Substitute Diet: Newly hatched Artemia (micro) during the first 3 days.
5. Lighting and Operational Logistics
Maintain soft, constant lighting over the incubation containers to avoid stressing the larvae during the yolk sac absorption phase and the beginning of swimming.
Workbench: Dedicated space near the system with a benchtop magnifying glass or stereomicroscope to monitor the fertilization rate and early identification of fungi on the eggs.
We are revealing a little of what we are doing; there are about 34 aquariums, half of which will soon be full of fry. It was set up yesterday, and these are the first images; there is a lot of work ahead! Spending 20 years in the Amazon, mapping wild populations, exporting with rigorous biological criteria and now managing to reproduce such rare wild lineages in captivity (a project that has required the patience of a monk since 2022) is the pinnacle for any breeder.
Seeing this brood with such healthy eggs is living proof that empirical knowledge and respect for the genetics of these fish bring incredible results. It is the history of Portuguese and world aquaristics unfolding before our eyes.
