Discus keepers?

[plebian]

There don't seem to be many discus keepers on this forum. Seems a bit odd. I suppose they're all over at SimplyDiscus getting indoctrinated by the pedants.

 

[MattW]

Thrown them before, never kept them though.

 

[fishorama]

I had a year raising little discus juveniles. A lot of work, then we moved long distance. The Simply folks were mostly nicer in person than they seem sometimes online. I'm sure it can be tiresome answering the same questions & poor husbandry issues over & over.

 

[plebian]

A lot of work

Not true. I've raised multiple groups. Same food, same water change schedule as with any other species. It only gets complicated if you listen to the pedants.

 

[Mazain]

There don't seem to be many discus keepers on this forum. Seems a bit odd. I suppose they're all over at SimplyDiscus getting indoctrinated by the pedants.

I Would be lying if I said, I only wana keep a discus fish tank. The folks on simply discus are dedicated discus fish keepers who prefer to keep them only in bare bottoms over hardscape planted aquariums.
I cant keep a discus eco-system without the tetras, rainbows, SAE and shirmps. That's alot of species trying to fit to a balance setup for the discus.
I'm not a fan of bare bottoms since I dont breed or do it commercially. However, Simply discus had good info on discus sickness & diseases. I treated my discus heximita and hole in the head thanks to simply discus.
Now, its been close to 2 1/2 years and my discus and other fish are doing fine with my husbandry.

 

[simonas]

Had a few discus set ups over the last 30 years or so but shut my last one down about 12 months ago. They are superb fish and I still have a dream of setting up a tank for a one colour type wild discus shoal but that will be when I am better off financially.

 

[Mazain]

I still have a dream of setting up a tank for a one colour type wild discus shoal

Would you add a super red arowana in that setup.

 

[simonas]

Would you add a super red arowana in that setup.

Absolutely no chance lol I have just moved my super red arowana on from my big predator tank as it was just far too bolshy and the greediest and aggressive feeder I have ever kept. They would be a nightmare with discus. Are you being serious?

 

[Mazain]

Absolutely no chance lol I have just moved my super red arowana on from my big predator tank as it was just far too bolshy and the greediest and aggressive feeder I have ever kept. They would be a nightmare with discus. Are you being serious?

I know its alot of exotic fish in a fish tank. If it's your dream tank I'm sure you'll get F1 grades. But, yes I'm serious!

 

[simonas]

I know its alot of exotic fish in a fish tank. If it's your dream tank I'm sure you'll get F1 grades. But, yes I'm serious!

the asian arowana and discus in my opinion should be in my opinion nowhere near each other in a tank and for me the arowana would cause the discus to lead a miserable life

 

[Mazain]

Hmm, Arowanas can get miserable if you get low grades. Since I have not kept wild caught discus, I would'nt know the agony of growing them to their full potential. This is my discus fish close to 15cm in my 90 gallon. These were not high quality discus fish but they have turned out to my liking.

 

[plebian]

Simply discus had good info on discus sickness & diseases

That forum is an excellent source for disease treatment protocols. I just have a gripe with their recommendations regarding how discus should be kept, not to mention their attitude toward anyone who challenges those beliefs with contrary facts.

 

[Mazain]

I just have a gripe with their recommendations regarding how discus should be kept, not to mention their attitude toward anyone who challenges those beliefs with contrary facts.

Agreed, they condemed my setup and said its imposible for discus to grow!. Your right about the attitude. Knowledge of value is far superior than knowledge of facts in general.
I started discus from the basic level, from 5cm to 7cm and learned a hell of alot that I would'nt find from pedants. In a nut-shell the chances of your discus getting stunted, growing out of shape, being deformed can start at a young stage, even if you have bought high quality discus at 5cm. I can argue that values of husbandry over laps facts that works for some.
E.g. discus does'nt have to be F1 or F2 grades, doing the regular WC, high nutrition feeds and maintanace work can reduce early stunting and deformities. Sticking to a guidline and working on it (not being biased) has got me where Iam with my discus fish.
I think TFF has some excellent hobyst and discus keepers the type that not do it for comercial purpose and only for the passion.

 

[plebian]

Thrown them before, never kept them though.

That's a shame. I'm not aware of any other species with the range of personality or the complexity of social interaction that is displayed by Symphysodon. As beautiful as they are, it's a shame that's the only thing that gets attention.

 

[Mazain]

it's a shame that's the only thing that gets attention.

P.s. Gary once said wild caught discus were indiginous south american native food.