Just received my Discus
- Thread starter Hidan
- Start date
Yeah others on this forum have told me the same. Problem is black worms & mysis are not really available in my country and if I do manage to get them, they would cost a small fortune. Mussels are also not available (as its not commonly consumed). Shrimp are also expensive and hence I am left with the only feasible choice of using a beef heart mix & good dry pellets (Discus don't seem to like the pellets, which the remaining fish gobble up)
I am aware that they may have liver issues in the future, but the beef heart mix seems to be the only viable budget option available to me.
I am aware that they may have liver issues in the future, but the beef heart mix seems to be the only viable budget option available to me.
ALSO - discus do best in biotope aquariums, and a white sand bottom, live plants, lots of driftwood and floating plants will make them show amazing color and growth. I see a lot of barebottom tanks on here, which is fine, but when a fish doesn't need one, please don't force them to live in one.
Theyre all so beautiful! Good luck!
ALSO - discus do best in biotope aquariums, and a white sand bottom, live plants, lots of driftwood and floating plants will make them show amazing color and growth. I see a lot of barebottom tanks on here, which is fine, but when a fish doesn't need one, please don't force them to live in one.
Theyre all so beautiful! Good luck!You do know just about all domesticated discus were born and raised in a barebottom tank so that’s all they are use to ... wilds on the other handALSO - discus do best in biotope aquariums, and a white sand bottom, live plants, lots of driftwood and floating plants will make them show amazing color and growth. I see a lot of barebottom tanks on here, which is fine, but when a fish doesn't need one, please don't force them to live in one.
I must agree to disagree. It's in a fish's dna - they need adequate cover and at least some substrate on the bottom of the tank. Studies show that fish kept in tanks with natural looking decor are happier and healthier, and emit less stress pheromones than ones kept in barren tanks or tanks decorated with overly bright plastic plants. In don't see why people think it's so hard to decorate a fish's home. Surely, no animal would want to live in a glass box to begin with - we should at least try to give them the comfort that they need.
Its debatable what an animal/fish would want. Would a fish be happier living in a small enclosure with regular food or prefer dying young to predators or living a life full of stress about being eaten. Its a myth that fish swim the whole lake/river as most just find a hiding place they call home and live near it.
Would a human prefer to live in a hut in a safe country with plenty of food and water, rather than living in south Sudan where you and your family could be killed at any moment?
As for bare bottom tanks. The reason 90% of discus keeper keep bare bottom tanks is because we feed the discus 3 times or more a day, often with messy foods like beef heart mixes, which dirty the water and also causes a lot of waste production from the fish. It is much easier to clean a barebottom tank and ensure the discus have the clean water they need to survive and thrive.
I have added in a log with mosses and plants into my discus tank and its a pain for me when I try and clean around it. Its doubly dangerous as the discus love hiding behind it when I clean and have to ensure while cleaning I don't drop the log on the discus.
Once fully grown, many discus keepers add in sand plants, logs etc and give them more of a biotope aquarium. Think of it as childproofing your house and not letting your kid drive a car or play with fire.
At least one can of worms has been opened already. 
I am a bare bottom guy, after starting with a sand and driftwood community I orefer keeping discus bare bottom. The community tank is still up, and a couple discus in it, but especially for grow out, feed heavily and wayer change often, keep it clean and feed the funk out of them is my approach. I am a newb take it for what you will.
I am a bare bottom guy, after starting with a sand and driftwood community I orefer keeping discus bare bottom. The community tank is still up, and a couple discus in it, but especially for grow out, feed heavily and wayer change often, keep it clean and feed the funk out of them is my approach. I am a newb take it for what you will.
Fish are doing well, eating nicely and are now no longer afraid of me or bother hiding. They seem to be growing, but since I see them daily its difficult for me to know how much they have grown.
Absolutely love my Discus.
Absolutely love my Discus.
