Discus Anyone ?

[125gJoe]

How many here have Discus? How are they doing? I never see anything on Discus in the forum...:confused:

[Skittyfish]

I would really like to know also. I am thinking of getting about three of four in a month or so. I know very little about them and have been trying to watch for threads discusssing them.

[125gJoe]

I couldn't find any healthy Discus locally, so I got them from Ohio from Discus Dream.

[Harry Tolen]

Yes, I keep discus. Here are a couple of photos:

http://www.harrytolen.com/images/aqua/disco2.jpg

http://www.harrytolen.com/images/aqua/discus02.jpg

In my experience, the most important factors for keeping discus successfully are 2x weekly water changes, compatible tankmates (I keep mine with corys and cardinals and hatchetfish only), and good mechanical filtration cleaned frequently. If your water is really hard you might consider an R/O unit for a 50/50 mix with your tapwater (that's what I did when I lived in LA), but that's really not as important as the large, frequent water changes. I do mine with a Python system right into the tank, because we still use chlorine here instead of chloramines. If your water department has made the switch, however, I'd treat and store your change water in garbage cans or rubbermaid bins for a couple of days prior to using it.

BTW, when discus are healthy, they will eat just about anything. Mine survive on Tetra color bits, freeze-dried bloodworms, and Aquarian flakes.

[Tyler718]

I keep them also.:)

When I first came aboard AC there used to be a few posts about them, but more than lately. I really enjoy keeping them.

I follow the principles for keeping Discus as Harry Tolen. This is really good advice to follow.

[a_free_bird73]

I keep Discus as well in community tank with gouramies and angels... Temperature, healthy fish to start with andgood aquarium maintanance will increase your chances of success...

In my experience, they are pretty **** robost fish (specially captivity bred fish) and highly tolerant of medications which makes them easy to treat (except for internal infections). Most of them were brough up in Discus only tanks and that I found to be a problem in community tanks. It takes a bit of work to get them to adjust, but once they do, they are fine. how much work depends on the temperment of the fish. The latest batch of 4 I bought, 2 adjusted well and were soon fighting for their food. one refused to eat and one was bullied around and starved for several days. It took me 2 months of trial and error to get them to settle down, but they now seem fine and have taken their place. Enjoyable experience and would recommended to anyone once you have a bit of experience under your belt.

[125gJoe]

Nice pics Harry! It's good to hear a few others have these fish. I was beginning to wonder.......

[Dale W.]

I use to keep them years ago and I may get back into them. I have a buddy here that breeds discus and I signed him up on AC. Now if I can just get him to learn how to type :D He has around 60 adults which most of them are of the higher quality strains. I will see if I can get some pics.

[Dangerdoll]

I just brought some new ones home last night. My first cluster of Discus and I am all sorts of excited!! I've been intrigued by these fish for a little over 2 years and did a lot of reading and contemplating over whether or not they were the fish for me and my tank. Last night, I decided they were and went and got them. yaaaaaay for DD!! :D

[Tiger15]

I kept Discus about 8 years ago and failed terribly. I will never keep discus again.

Discus are very weak fish susceptable to many deseases that most fish are resistant to. I think generations of line breeding and hybridization to produce superior color has compromized the hardiness.

[Deb2]

I keep discus also and have done so for years. I find them to be quite hardy now as opposed to 15 years ago. Years of tank raising them have made them adjust to quite different water than they would in the wild. Used to be unheard of to keep discus in pH higher than 6.0.
Discus are great fish and I think you will be pleased with them.
Great fish Harry, and great advice.
I also feed live California black worms and the fish do great on them. Grow faster and bigger.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Deb2
..... I find them to be quite hardy now as opposed to 15 years ago. Years of tank raising them have made them adjust to quite different water than they would in the wild. Used to be unheard of to keep discus in pH higher than 6.0. I totally agree! It's known that domestic Discus are a bit easier to care for than 'wild' Discus. Some may not have done their "homework" before getting them... They require high water temps... And, very good water quality. Slighty more care than say your average minnow. ;)

[copyeditor]

I've been keeping discus only a short time - about 8 months and I'm addicted. I also think they are robust fish. In September, I bought a 6-inch wild brown on vacation. He spent 3 days in a 7-gallon tank and 6 hours in a bag before he made it to his new home. He is my favorite - I wish I'd bought more of that stock. Now, I'm setting up a 58-gallon dedicated to my 4 discus.