Discus are an endless money pit!

[Colin_T]

I know..Fish stores always have fish that ignore people. One reason might be that they replace fish that don't adapt.

We didn't normally replace the stuff in the display tanks. The fish in them did better than the stuff in the for sale tanks because they were in a well set up tank with plants and we didn't add new fish to the tank all the time. Most of the issues we had with sick fish were from newly imported fish that had diseases when sent to us.

In my opinion, most wild caught fishes are stronger than captive bred stock. They usually have fewer diseases/ parasites too. This comes down to the Asian breeders who feed the fish crap, or organisms grown in crap, and the fish are seriously inbred and genetically weak.

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I stick to my guns, most vids of adult Discus in planted aquariums are not grown out in that aquarium, they went in large.

Most videos are staged full stop. Even a lot of the BBC documentaries are made in giant sheds in the UK. I have a collection of fish documentaries from the 70s and early 80s and they were really cool back in the day. But nowadays I can see where they use fish in aquariums vs fish in the wild.

Lots of videos on YouTube are staged, especially fish tanks with loads of plants and fish. People spend time setting it up, add a heap of fish, film it and then take it apart. It's all about ratings.

 

[itiwhetu]

This is my friends Discus. Mum, Dad and the kids all growing up happily in their planted tank.

 

[GaryE]

The only Discus videos worth watching to me are underwater footage from their habitats. It doesn't take a lot of looking to find them, and in 5 minutes, you learn more than in hours of looking at linebred fish dropped into the tank 10 minutes before, and taken out dead 2 days later.

Plants? Absolutely. Communities? I wouldn't do it because the only large tank I have is a 2 meter/6 footer, and that isn't big enough for Discus with other fish.

Discus, like all fish, are creatures we have to adapt to. They should never have to adapt to us. They are a lot of work, as the water must be pristine. Discus, Geophagus, Satanoperca, Uaru - all are pretty demanding of your time and attention. They need very clean, warm, soft water. I don't think a Discus tank is an endless money pit, because they really are fish you should spend a small fortune on getting set up for. Before you get them is when you spend.

You also have to be ready for a fish that moves with dignity, and won't always put on a show on demand. You adapt. They make their own communities like the beauties in the photo up above, and you do the work to let them live well. I decided a few years back that I was too disorganized for these fish, but I admire them, and admire fishkeepers who keep and breed good ones.

 

[Stan510]

I just saw a vid of collecting wild fish- something that's not my usual taste especially when they follow with those fish in holding aquariums in some run down warehouse. In one part of the vid she took the water temperature of the large river- not a little pond- and it read 87f/31c. So Discus want water that's near lethal to other fish. How many people want the fish that can handle Discus warm? From what I've seen Rams might..but they are fish of small ponds and slow streams,not really Discus habitat.
There are people who have Discus in many different conditions..but my point is that's the exception. Most people will in time not siphon out the muck that accumulates in plant sands,that in turn creates a breeding ground for pathogens. Happens to the best since it takes only one setback to kill years of fish fun.
I see in many.many vids of unhappy Discus in great looking aquariums..dark bars,faded eye color or eyes too big for the body...thin nuchal areas. Fish not long for this world.
I will stick to my big Bozey Rainbows. Like tanks,yet one the world's most beautiful freshwater fish and they eat anything- happily.

 

[Stan510]

Here's MD of youtooby fame saying my mantra "Discus do not like substrate or bright lights and loads of plants" Not an exact quote but close when you see the video.
He also was wondering why the frayed fins? I see he has some suckermouth loach. One thing about Discus? They never fight back..only with each other. They can be bullied by much smaller fish and sucker mouths out to eat slime can kill them.

 

[GaryE]

I try to avoid youtube tank videos of Discus. First off, I think most of the breeder forms are ugly, and second, emaciated fish with oversized eyes are depressing, not inspiring.
I had some small brown wilds - too plain for sale but which I liked and grew out to a good size. The maintenance was on par with a Geophagus time wise, and after a few years, I lost them. They taught me that either you are mad about these fish, or you should avoid them. I liked them, but there were other fish I like more.
Check this out, if you like Discus.

 

[Stan510]

That vid was from the days when they tried to pass captured fish as in the wild. A big tip off is that you see the same fish pass back and forth across the camera. I know I saw once that they build some wooden cage in a river..and put fish in there and say they are in the wild. Well,they were,now they are in a pond in the wild.
Otherwise the narrator said what I surmised all these years- Discus do not like bright lights or being crowded in small aquariums. The part where they are found in a strong flow breaks the myth that Discus wanted low flow to standing water in an aquarium. But you are never going to convince a hobby person to keep them in a strong flow.
Also the 88f degree water...again not many fish like it that warm but fish in the Discus rivers.
Even feeding them people don't get it. They love beefheart and to all those who post 'Fish are not eating cows in the Amazon" misses out that beefheart seems so much like worm meat. No wonder worms and beefheart grow them large.
Sometimes people get lucky and a pair does well in a community tank. But,thats trying for the exception. Gambling.

 

[itiwhetu]

I try to avoid youtube tank videos of Discus. First off, I think most of the breeder forms are ugly, and second, emaciated fish with oversized eyes are depressing, not inspiring.
I had some small brown wilds - too plain for sale but which I liked and grew out to a good size. The maintenance was on par with a Geophagus time wise, and after a few years, I lost them. They taught me that either you are mad about these fish, or you should avoid them. I liked them, but there were other fish I like more.
Check this out, if you like Discus.

I don't need to look at the video, I can see the stress in those fish.

 

[itiwhetu]

That vid was from the days when they tried to pass captured fish as in the wild. A big tip off is that you see the same fish pass back and forth across the camera. I know I saw once that they build some wooden cage in a river..and put fish in there and say they are in the wild. Well,they were,now they are in a pond in the wild.
Otherwise the narrator said what I surmised all these years- Discus do not like bright lights or being crowded in small aquariums. The part where they are found in a strong flow breaks the myth that Discus wanted low flow to standing water in an aquarium. But you are never going to convince a hobby person to keep them in a strong flow.
Also the 88f degree water...again not many fish like it that warm but fish in the Discus rivers.
Even feeding them people don't get it. They love beefheart and to all those who post 'Fish are not eating cows in the Amazon" misses out that beefheart seems so much like worm meat. No wonder worms and beefheart grow them large.
Sometimes people get lucky and a pair does well in a community tank. But,thats trying for the exception. Gambling.

No gambling needed, decide Discus are what you may or are going to keep in the future and set you tank up accordingly. My 150g most probably will house Discus at some stage, I have set it up now to accommodate them.

 

[GaryE]

The filmaker is a good friend, and I've seen the raw footage before edit. If you had any idea of how long it took him to get that close and capture what may be the only footage of Discus with fry. No tricks, no cages.

You don't need to look at that? It's too bad, as it would be a great opportunity for you to learn some useful things.

 

[Stan510]

Interesting that the many people who set up blackwater aquariums- don't put Discus in them. They want to see the fish in lights that show the color. Again,the aquarist wants the fish to adapt. Oscars will!,Discus die.
Discus and Reef tanks..if you don't get serious and do the math..its money down the drain and dead fish fertilizer for the backyard

 

[GaryE]

There, we can agree. I am a complete cheapskate from trying to make my hobby pay for itself, and my Discus adventure was an error. I would never keep Discus, reefs, or goldfish again. I think we also tend to have problems keeping any blackwater South American Cichlid above a certain size. My holy grail fish is Satanoperca daemon, but it'll remain that way since I will never have a large enough tank to accomodate them well.

 

[Stan510]

My conclusion on reef tanks? With so much money spent,you have to have the mindset that you can keep it growing 20 years later. Unlike plant tanks that can be remade over and over. Thus,the many free mega dollar reef setups to Ohio Fish Rescue. People get disgusted that they bought all the best equipment..and the reef melted less than a year later.
But that's another tangent.

 

[Lajos_Detari]

Actually keeping Discus isn't difficult and isn't costly if you follow these tips:

1)Don't feed them with live food or even frozen food that oftens caused the internal worms or internal parasites infection.

2)Don't overfeed them as it will cause bacteria infections(I suspect) if you don't change the tank water regularly and siphon out all the waste especially for planted tank or tank with sand.

3)When your Discus first arrive in your tank, you will have to deworm them(or treat them for internal protozoa) and also gill flukes.
Internal infections and flukes are very common with Discus. Even some breeders would acknowlege this, as these infections often started at the farms.

I kept Discus in the past but I had to give them away when I went for my eye surgery. They were growing well and healthy when I gave them away.
One pair was starting to breed.

By the way, don't use black sand or soil as the Pigeon blood will developing black peppering which look ugly.
Use lighter sand colours if you want.
And the blue Discus will turn darker blue if you use black bottom.
The best colour to use for background is blue.

I used many brands of fish pellets such as New Life Spectrum, Dr Bassleer, Discus food, Hikari, etc.
Discus prefer smaller pellets or soft granules. They won't pellets that are hard or bigger.
I only changed the tank water once a week at 120-140% of water.
I fed them only twice a day.
I kept them at water temperature between 28-30degC.

In my country, the Discus are cheap.
Small one(about 2") cost about USD 10 each.
A good size Discus (2.5-3") cost about USD 20.
I didn't buy those special breed that are too costly.

 

[Stan510]

I saw the other day a Discus breeder on YouTube,and no I didn't run to post it . I wish I had. Use tubes search and it should come up. I think it was new.Not sure. Anyways he repeated what I've said here a few times..give Discus large aquariums,no substrate or bright lights or even plants. Very warm water. When they start to pair up- move them to an aquarium of their own. The fish he showed all had THICK bodys. Would make any hip hop man proud. If I find it later I can post.
See? That's when you want Discus long terms. I didn't watch the whole vid since he was telling me the already converted.
Sure you can keep them in plant tanks for months and surrounded by tetras...but the odds are not for you my friends,and one day they will stop eating..and from what I've seen curing young Discus and expecting them to grow large later is not likely to happen. Save that money for large Discus..but up to you.