Discus?

[Fraoch]

I've heard discus are really quite hard to look after is that true or are they easier than people make them sound?

 

[Carlovel1]

They are quite hard to look after, partly because of their water requirements. They require acidic soft water, which really, the UK lacks (RO water excluded) Someone with more Discus experiance will probs come along soon

 

[anon02]

I would say that depends on your fishkeeping experience / expertise

 

[walkers101]

get them from local breeder and they should be in local tap water

 

[Carlovel1]

get them from local breeder and they should be in local tap water

What if they are in RO water?

 

[Fraoch]

mm, problem *sigh* lol
my nearest lfs is a 2 hour drive and i dont know of anyone who breeds fish near here
same problem every time

 

[rdp50734]

try aquarist classifieds click county and punch in the nearest one to you!

 

[drobbyb]

If you get young discus, you will need DAILY large water changes and a high quality high protein diet to ensure proper growth and shape. Nobody likes looking at a discus that is shaped a little like an arrow head.

 

[Oscar Betta]

Beginners can keep them, you just got to do your research.

 

[walkers101]

get them from local breeder and they should be in local tap water

What if they are in RO water?

Then find somewhere else? Most tank bred discus are kept in tap water from where i have been and what i have seen on AQ

 

[markandhisfish]

my discus were kept in ro water in the dealers tanks , i keep them in tap water no problems at all. you just have to acclimatise them a bit longer thats all. its also a myth that discus NEED soft acidic water , my ph is around 7.4 and as for gh kh etc your guess is as good as mine. i never test it , it really isnt that important unless youre breeding.

as for the daily large waterchanges , this is true if you are growing out juveniles ( which will also want around 5 feediongs per day) , but can be reduced when the fish are adults . i do 3x30% waterchanges a week on my adults with 3 feedings a day .

i would avoid lfs discus like the plague , they are usually very poor quality , hormone treated and stunted. most of the damage with stunting etc is done in discus in the earliest stages of their life . if you want good fish go to a specialist dealer. where are you based , i know a few good ones . reputable ones usually ship if you cant get to them to choose your own fish and should be happy to email you pics of the fish they have selected for you before taking your money .

check out this usefull guide to selecting discus
http/www.aquariumhobbyist.com/discus/beginner/index.html

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

Not as hard as everyone makes out.

Equipment is much better than it was in the early days when people thought they were hard work.

Now, same as any other specialist fish. Correct diet and sensible environment, and they will thrive

 

[markandhisfish]

Beginners can keep them, you just got to do your research.

sorry but i disagree with this statement , whilst not quite as mystical as their reputation , deffinately NOT a beginners fish. they are very unforgiving of mistakes. beginners should learn the lessons and make the inevitible mistakes with cheaper fish 1st.

 

[Fraoch]

yeh, i think i will leave them a while yet anyway and make all my mistakes on my cheap tank i just wanted to know more about them
i think their beautiful fish

 

[markandhisfish]

yes they are beautiful fish indeed , and do require more care than most fish , altho its really not as magical and technical as the discus "experts" would have you believe. a wise choice to gain more general fish keeping experience 1st