Growth Inhibiting Toxins In Discus Fish 

I've kept discus for seven years and I've always noticed that the smallest fish in the tank tends not to grow much. I had no idea this was an actual thing, thank you !!!

I have always Wondered for many years If there was such a thing as Growth Inhibiting Hormones In Discus or any other Species for that matter. Even in the vast numbers in literatures It rarely mentioned( if any) that there was/wasn't any such Phenomena existed. Now that I am more seasoned giving the 20+ years of keeping Discus and many other Cichlids, now It totally makes more sense that this phenomenon indeed Does exists. I have battled Like so many other hobbyist with Stunting and very abnormal growth rates In Discus, even though All my Discus got the same Daily Maintenance and care. I have had some I could not figure out why they weren't growing like the other Fish that were housed with. I am a firm Believer That Growth- Inhibiting Hormones Does Exist. Thank you Gabe for the Very informative video on this Subject! Jason

Gabe your extensive experience dedication and love of discus. Shines through. All your advice is sound. Balanced with common sense. Jack Watley made a great choice in putting you in charge of his legacy.

Being new to keeping Discus, this is a no BS channel with regard to the needed info to keep these fish.

Dude! I appreciate the information, I learn more off your channel than any other. I even watched the Spanish ones, and I don't speak Spanish...and I don't even keep discuss, lol. Great content, I just relate the information to the fish that I do keep. Keep making videos, keep up the good fight! You are not falling on deaf ears.

This was amazing I experienced this and wondered why this happened. I have separated my smaller ones right away after knowing this hoping they grow now

ive heard of this with gold fish many years ago. Regular water changes are key to growth even if you get them all at once or for some reason have only one. Its a natural mechanism to keep them from outgrowing their environment.

Gabe you are the man sir. I have been a long time fan of the channel and I called the store today and spoke with you personally. I did not expect that. I can’t say enough about Jack Wattley Discus A+++ fish and customer service. Lifetime customer here. This business has been around 25+ years for a reason.

Discus is one fish I've never tried but the more I learn from you, the more I think I will add them to my fish room some day. Thanks for the videos.

Don't apologize, mate! I really appreciate every minute you put in. Covid also bit me in the butt for 2.5 years, just before I was heading to SEA to start breeding myself. Finally back here and ready to go. Thanks for everything you do, and best wishes. Will no doubt be in touch. Cheers, Gabe.

I'm really glad that Cory from aquarium co op did videos with you. I've learned so much more about a fish I'll most likely never keep. Bigger fish aren't my thing,but gosh are these fish are beautiful!

Excellent video. Yes I’ve known about this for years. I used to breed Angel fish and had to separate the larger fish so the smaller siblings growth would take off. In spawns with double black angels this was very important. Thank you and I look forward to your next video (videos).

Thank you! This information is so useful. I wonder if it’s the same with Angelfish?

Wow this explains so much it's not only with discus our goldfish got effected by these hormones smh thanks for such an informative video

thank you for all your knowledge..Love from Greece

Wow. I’m so glad this was brought to the light. I had this problem with some fish but I didn’t understand what was going on as far as hormones or toxins go.

Great info as usual , Gabe I gotta tell you that I have gained & "retained" more knowledge from every single video and I am always appreciative for new content , so thank you for EVERYTHING YOU DO ! I wish you all the best this Christmas and for your family & for your talented staff @ the hatcheries 💙🌿 Take some extra quality time to really recharge & take care 🪐

One subject I’ve wanted to see discussed/studied is the presence of growth inhibiting toxins in fish related to water changes/flushing those out of the water column. I’ve always heard that fish excrete growth inhibiting hormones into the water.

Hello Gabe amazing video, long time ago you were going to make a video on how to prep vitamins for discus, I hope you can get time to show us how. Big hugh my friend.

Enhorabuena Gabriel por las nuevas instalaciones.Os deseo mucha suerte

This information is worth gold. Thanks!

Can you please make a video on why discus become shy and hide . What can be done to remove their shyness and become bold and responsive.

Gabe, Wow! mind blown! I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me, I could never figure it out, Thank you Sir,

Directly from Portugal. I had the same problem. Thanks Mr. Pozada!

Omg I wished I knew this information😅 it all makes sense now. I have 2 small discus. I love them all the same, though.

Gabe you are genius. Now going to have a look on my fish tanks as I have no intention to see owls 🦉 growing instead discus. 🤪

Always knew not to mix small and large discus together but never knew about this hormone thing. Thought the bigger ones would bully the smaller ones and they won't eat properly and wouldn't grow. Thank you.

I recently experienced this, so true. Thanks again for sharing your insight and expertise!

Gabe, thanks for your wealth of knowledge on best practices for raising and keeping discus, seriously thinking of restarting a tank and it definitely will be discus, keep up the good work.

Great videos and a nice refresher on tossing in small with large discus. I'm loving them Altums in the background. Sad I had to sell my group of St. Isabelle Altums a few years back but I think I will be reaching out to you soon after I get my 75 gallon tank set up again.

Witnessed this and preeched this for many years! Great vid!!!

Absolutely wonderful topic, I used to have same problem now I realized thanks with my Blessing 🙏

Great video Gabe. Much love from DFW

Great advise and I too face teh same situation. All smaller size had the same fate

Thanks Gabe, It's good to have you back

This was great learned something new now I know why I have 10 around same size & 3 small ones that won't grow

Very informative! Thanks Gabe and JWD team.

This video is extremely helpful, i too went thru that "experiment" with my discus with out knowing it.

You are very generous with your knowledge and I would like to thank you ,I always look forward to your vids And learn a lot….thanks again.👍🇬🇧

I don’t even own discus and I learn tips that help me

Awesome insight. Thanks Gabe for sharing this important information with us all. Bless you mate

Great video. I have seen it in my fish room. Wish I could have seen this 30 years ago.

I think the great thing about the fish hobby is that you can sample size thousands of times within your lifetime. Due to the nature of the hobby, so one can reasonably conduct research on this subject. Hopefully everyone can understand that and will try and learn how to properly conduct your own research. I definitely find this theory to be very plausible, I know for a fact this happens in mostly aquatic species of animals and honestly why wouldn't discus be part of it? I hope people also understand gabe is not saying water quality etc isn't a fact, this is just yet another factor to add on to the "Why didn't my discus grow". Also people mention why don't fry get growth inhibited by their parents? It's honestly obvious, if you're someone who can't see that hormones change depending on the environmental factors, then start doing research on hormones or chemical changes in mammals or other animals. Hormones can and will change because the environment. Parents probably do not produce inhibiting hormones with fry, physically their bodies do change due to a hormone to produce a "slime coat" to feed their fry, why wouldn't they also stop producing an inhibiting hormone?

Gabe, always enjoy your vids, look forward to more

Glad to see you doing video again, This was another great informative video and I can say I have learned many helpful things since I have been watching your vids. Thank you Gabe for sharing your time and knowledge with all of us.

Thanks again, Gabe, for your information. Much appreciated.

Definitely seen dramatic difference in growth for my discus w/r to water changes. How does this work evolutionarily for fish that live in large bodies of water though? I've heard about this effect in goldfish because they've been kept in small containers for thousands of years. But wouldn't any hormone the fish release into the water dilute too quickly to have any effect on other fish?

Cant wait to see the new space and content

Thinking of you right now, mate as I see a hurricane coming through. Best wishes!!

wow... excellent material. Didn't know that, but indeed in my water tank I have pair of snakeskins, bought together , where one is now twice as big as the other one. Funny thing is that its the smaller one eating the most of food and still size difference is not changing at all :-) greetings from Poland!

Very Informative, Thanks Gabe ! 💯💐

Amazing video Gabe as always. You give such great info in such great detail. Thanks so much, your just a joy to have in the hobby, especially when it comes to discus.

Curious to know about the setups of your new hatchery. Please video tape while setting up things as much as you can.

Thank you so much Mr. Gabe

Thank you 🙏

Thanks Gabe.. I think I'm going to get back into the hobby. Earl Fitzgerald

This phenomena is undoubtedly true. I wonder if weekly water changes of 30% or more ("dilution is the solution to pollution") would help combat this phenomena - or if activated charcoal would be effective in removing the hormones from the water column? There's always more questions than answers...but that's what makes it interesting!!

Wow thank u so much gabe such helpful information

Thank you for that information… you really make it so much easier for everyone . You are Awesome, thank you again 🥰🌺

Thanks so much for the info. Have a great Christmas and a great new year.

Thank you Gabe . You are the best

Thank you for the info

Very informative…thanks Gabe!

Thank you so much for sharing

MUCH MUCH AWAITED ....... gr8 stuff

POR FIN HAS VUELTOOOOOOOOO AUNQUE SEA EN INGLES, MIL GRACIAS!!!

Thanks Gabe!

Thank for the knowledge 👍

Congratulations Much love.

Thanks Gabe ......

Loads of amazing info here

Thanks

Saludo desde vieques Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

Really useful information Gabe!!

Hello - Waiting for more VIDEOS....

Great information, I plan on ordering soon!

Thanks for sharing this information to us... Good information

A million thanks for making these videos. They are like golden knowledge. From your explanation of " owl" syndrome, could there ever be a " dwarf " or short body discus?

very informative thanks, sir

Thank you!!

Id be a lie if I said I have even hurd of this. But I understand it. And its something I will be aware of,From here on out. Thanks Gabe...

Gabe great videos as usual thanks 🙏🏻 I think I’m having this problem I have about 15 discus in a 150 gallon I bought them all about the same size 3 months ago about 7 discus haven’t grown at all There eating well 4 to 5 times a day beefheart and live black worms and brine shrimp some doubled and even almost tripled in size and the rest are staying small even though they eat like pigs. My question is that I don’t have room for another fish tank if I leave them in there with the bigger discus will they eventually grow or they will stay small forever ?

very informative video,, great.. thank you sir..

مشكور على المعلومات المفيدة، بالصدفة فصلت الديسكس الكبير عن الصغير. ربي يبارك في اسماكك

Nice video sir Love from india❤️❤️❤️

Hey, this video is fantastic! Immediately explained what was going on in my tank. I'm just wondering how long these toxins remain in the water after you take the largest fishes out? Cheers mate 💙

Very informative as always

My reporting manager is also capable of releasing growth inhabiting toxins to his subordinates. He likes to claim the credits of what have been accomplished by his subordinates, thus he himself keeps on getting promotions, from Manager to Senior Manager to AVP. Although his subordinates are the ones doing the hard work, they hardly get any promotion.

Great infos Merci

I love them!I love to work there!

Thanks Gabe

So true.

I’m having this particular problem, the only thing is that I bought them all at the same time (9 total) seems like 2 or 3 are stunted while the rest are growing fine. It’s a 90 gal with FX-4 and I perform weekly water changes (30%) their diet is mostly frozen beef heart (commercial brand) discus delight, flakes & vibra bites. They all eat well and are thriving but I couldn’t figure out why some didn’t grow at the rate as the others. Still after watching the video I have questions cause they were all 1.5 to 2” and now most of them are around 4” while 2 of them are stunted. Love your videos and information, always appreciated!! Gracias!

That's very interesting. Selling fish is my work in Italy and I never herd about this problem. Can you tell on your experience if it works only for discus or also for other kind of fishes?

In the plant world, jungle val and sagittaria do not do well together in a tank for the same reason -

I'm new to discus, I bought 4 about the same time and then added 2 more a few months later, I don't think they were more than 1.5 inches less than the 4 I fist bought. BUT, now 2 years later the last 2 I bought are smaller than the first 4 I bought.....after see your video it now makes sense....I have another tank I could put the 2 smaller ones in, do you think it would make a difference?

Buenas noches! Hay alguna cura para la vejiga natatoria? Saludos

Thanks Discus Sensei !!!

very interesting ! thanks for this aquarist secret!!

Hi, it's a very true information ! With daphnia , it's the same phenomenon ! I spoke with you long time ago , you were saying , that you were plaining to move . Are you moving again or it's old video ? Montreal, Canada.