eating prob, and live blackworms

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cakemountain

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 12, 2007
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ohio
Ok, I have gotten my discus to eat some hikari bloodworms, 3 feedings, and they always act hungry, come to the top when they see my hand, and pick around at the bottom. When they were held at the distributer they were fed live blackworms, and it was guessed that in asia they raise them on live blackworms. other than the hikari bw, tried homemade beefheart, topfin color flakes, omega one super color flakes, omega one super color pellets, another type of bloodworms, and frozen sea-monkeys(brine shrimp)

My question, if they have never had anything else, and dont like anything ive tried, am I forced to get live blackworms, which I cannot find anywhere?
I spoke with one local pet shop that can get them for around 50 bucks a pound.

The whole discus experience has been expensive so far, this just seems like rubbing salt in my wounds though
 
i just examined the discus again, a couple of them appear to have some begining fin rot. This was not present yesterday. Could that be the problem with the food? they still come up to my hand to eat(without following up with actual ingestion) I will run to the store domani and pick something up.

I dont have a camera to shoot digital pics, and dont have the equip to take pics off my phone or Id stick a couple pics. The fins looks a little nipped up on a couple of them, but nothing nasty yet.

I have been doing daily changes with aged tap/small amount of RO mixed in.
 
Tough to say without pictures. As to the food, don't do the $50/pound. That is a rip off. I get them ~$20/pound around here. If they aren't eating, try the entice. It usually works.
 
that is the only blackworms I can find at all, didnt say I would pay it.

the only thing local is something called garlic something... Is this the same thing?
 
It also looks like there is something funky with the skin of one of them. Any suggestions for medication?

Again, sorry for lack of pics.
 
The skin is probably just the slime coat. They are under a lot of stress right now. Have you asked all your LFS about getting blackworms in for you? Most wholesalers have them available. Garlic guard is not the same as entice, but is something you should be using on your discus. If you don't have plants, or other occupants you can medicate with melafix/pimafix. Those should help the fins.
 
will this whole situation improve eventually? I really try to support the local lfs, as all we really have left is 2 or 3 privately owned, and lots of petsmarts and such. The nearest breeder to toledo, oh is in Mich. which is over an hour and a half there. Should I say screw having my lfs order fish and just make the drive to get the discus at a breeder?

I think the reason I can maintain a tank for my father is that he got established discus from a friend who grew tired of his. I never had to age water, or use special food for his tank, and he does just weekly changes, and keeps numerous tank mates with his.
 
also, which med to use, melafix or pimafix or both? Should I start using tank salt as well?

also thinking of getting a UV ster. to kill anything in the water.
 
i just wish there was an ultimate discus info source. I have read countless articles and 5 books now, and they all say the same thing: history of discus keeping, natural habitat, basic water perams, and breeding info

I have done well with a lot of different fish now:silver arrowana, bichers, pirannas, severems, non-spiney eels, loaches, tetras, africans, various large cichlids, guiramis, and angels.

I never put in 1/10th the effort I am putting into discus.

Does anyone know a really good book or website that would cover the types of questions I have been asking. I feel like an absolute fool constantly posting new questions about discus care.

p.s. I have been asking around and someone says that a store I already called carries blackworms, even though I remember saying they didnt have any. Perhaps they meant they were temporarily out, not that they didnt carry them, they open back up tuesday so I will find out.
 
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