First ever Discus....

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G

grapedinox

Candiru
MFK Member
Oct 14, 2007
657
9
48
Spokane Wa
Ok so this is a strange situation I was placed in. I have been on MFK now for 3 years or so but I mostly stick to the sting ray forum. I have and am breeding retulated stingrays (3 new pups born last night :)) I love my rays and I have always loved the regal magestic look of the discus. Now here is my issue....my BF knew I had always wanted discus I have talked about getting into them several times. So yesterday without me having a clue he went and bought 2 for me, and not just any 2 he bought what he was told are a mated breeding pair of blue diamond snakeskin. They are gorgeous! But I am so scared to have them, I have heard a million times how delicate they are and hard to keep. Please is there any advice that I should know above and beyond the stickies. I have read all the stickies plus other articles online about them. Is there anything I should be watching out for, warning sings that things are perfect. I tried feeding them this morning and they wanted nothing to do with it. I have one of the cone feeders and I put a good size portion of black worms in the worm feeder. They are currently in a 30 gallon sand bottom tank with the 3 new baby retic's and 5 clown loaches. The tank is plumbed in and running with my main system which is circulating 600+ gallons. Temp is between 82-84 all water perameters are perfect. I am now trying to find a tank I can devote just to the discus but in the meantime they are where they have to be. The 5 clown loaches are currently for sale in the market and on craigslist as they have been picking on my mama stingray. So I guess this is hello to all the other discus owners and please help me to not fall flat on my face with these beautiful fish....
 
Sorry for the crummy picture it was taken at midnight last night when I saw the babies were born. I am super crappy at taking pictures of fish too. Did the LFS give him the right ID on these discus? They are between 6-7 inches.
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Congrats on your first Discus...and a pair at that! 2 Discus that are a pair will do better, than just 2 juvies in a tank. So you're OK there. Once you sell off the Clowns...even better, as they will try to "graze" on the sides of the Discus, eating their slime coat, stressing them out. Especially during lights out, when the Clowns get active, and the Discus "sleep". Adult Discus can be very picky and fussy when moved. At times they will not eat for a day or two. They should be eating the live CBW's soon. Make sure your temp. is at least 82...Minimum. If not eating after awhile...raise the temp. to 86-88. The high side gets their metabolism going, and they usually will start eating. I know Discus can be kept with Rays. Not sure about the particulars, as I don't keep Rays. All the best with them...Bill
 
sweet discus.

dont be paranoid. they are just like all ur other fish. all of them like clean water and good food. :)
 
congrats on the discus!!! i was thinking of trying my hand at them as well but am a little scared to just jump into them as im not the best aquarium maintainence person and i dont wanna kill em but anyways congrats again on the discus!!!!
 
Thanks Jodyy I too was not really ready for the jump to Discus. It's was my BF's grand idea. He went to the LFS to get a new bulkhead for the big tank and came home w 2 blue diamond snakeskin bonded mating pair. I guess that was my headsup we are doing discus now :) from everything I have read they shouldn't be much different than my reticulated rays which in and of themselves are one of the more sensitive rays and I am breeding mine with great success so I guess I am doing something right. Clean water, good food, peaceful environment, and patience seems easy to me. We shall see.....
 
i think if you can maintain water conditions good enough for your retics to breed, then discus should be a walk in the park
 
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