second try

[PaulineMi]

I wonder what would cause angel fry to attach to discus? 

[Mugwump]

I wonder what would cause angel fry to attach to discus?

Jan and I wondered too...we surmised that the darkening slime on the discus may induce some kind of chemical odor/reaction in the water that attracts them.....but then if it attracts discus fry/angel fry, will it attract others too?....predators?....or is it so minute that it does not project very far?...

[LizStreithorst]

I don't know how it works.  Perhaps some of the BBS sticks to the parents slime and once the fry take a bite they say, "hey, this is some good stuff".  This morning before and after I fed BBS no fry were attached.  This afternoon when the BBS had been eaten and the fry were hungry the pair was covered with them.

They prefer dad to mom because he gets very dark which means more slime.  Here they are on both parents.

[Mugwump]

Nice pics.....they sure are chowing.....who'd a thunk it?....

[PaulineMi]

That is amazing!   Great pictures too.

[wsantia1]

That is great Liz.  Great pictures too.

[Mugwump]

How good are angel fry at clearing the slime coat?...compared to discus....??

[BallAquatics]

Since they, (Angel fry), wouldn't normally behave in that manner, we can conclude that there is something very attractive in the slime???

Dennis

[Mugwump]

Since they, (Angel fry), wouldn't normally behave in that manner, we can conclude that there is something very attractive in the slime???

Dennis

perhaps a chemical scent??

[BallAquatics]

Since they, (Angel fry), wouldn't normally behave in that manner, we can conclude that there is something very attractive in the slime???

Dennis

perhaps a chemical scent??

There MUST be something that attracts them.  Maybe Bill knows something about this.

It would make a fantastic additive to Capt'n Bob's fry food!!!

Dennis

[Mugwump]

Since they, (Angel fry), wouldn't normally behave in that manner, we can conclude that there is something very attractive in the slime???

Dennis

perhaps a chemical scent??

There MUST be something that attracts them.  Maybe Bill knows something about this.

It would make a fantastic additive to Capt'n Bob's fry food!!!

Dennis

'extract of squeezed slime coated discus added' ??....too big for an ingredient label....  

[LizStreithorst]

How good are angel fry at clearing the slime coat?...compared to discus....??

It's hard to tell.  When the parents are in the raising mood they are generally dark.  What is eaten is immediatly replaced, it seems.  That's why raising fry is hard on Discus and why the pair needs the best nutrition and water quality while their raising.

[LizStreithorst]

Since they, (Angel fry), wouldn't normally behave in that manner, we can conclude that there is something very attractive in the slime???

Dennis

I posted about this on the NADA forum as well.  John Nicholson said that donkey's years ago Jim Quarels did the opposite.  He raised Discus fry on an Angel pair.  He said that the Angels didn't like it much they raised the spawn.

Since it can go both ways, it seems to me that although they are two different species Angels and Discus are more closely related that we know.

[Mugwump]

Since they, (Angel fry), wouldn't normally behave in that manner, we can conclude that there is something very attractive in the slime???

Dennis

I posted about this on the NADA forum as well.  John Nicholson said that donkey's years ago Jim Quarels did the opposite.  He raised Discus fry on an Angel pair.  He said that the Angels didn't like it much they raised the spawn.

Since it can go both ways, it seems to me that although they are two different species Angels and Discus are more closely related that we know.

Maybe not....after all many things are fostered on another's milk...dogs nursing cats, etc....perhaps it's nothing more than nature's way of allowing the young a good chance at survival....at least food wise....heck, I don't know.....

[Mugwump]

How big are they getting now?......should be growing nicely on that discus chow combined with regular bbs/flake, etc....??