why are discus pricey??

[apistomaster]

I began breeding and raising wild caught Discus in 1969 and I did not get rich but I also did not have to work for anyone while I was in college. Discus are best bred and raised for the fun of it. Today's hormone treated fish are frequently troubled with high infertility rates. It can take awhile before you get some fry. Then I throw out all the hormone treated breeders and start over with my own fish.
They are cost intensive to raise outside of SE Asia and it really does cost a small fortune to airfreight imports and then there are some losses. It all adds up.
Basically, if you have to ask why Discus are so expensive, then they may not be the fish for you.

 

[Lupin]

Because we are worth it.

Very nice discus.

 

[The Happy Mud Skipper]

I think they are soo pricey because stupid LF stores tell people they are a hard fish too keep. In my experience, its not hard at all....even to start breeding them is not that hard. I mean they are after all a Ciclid from South America....how hard could that be??? I have two tanks filled with them.....the secret to my success..........Large Water BILLS!!!!!!!!!! 50% every week

 

[apistomaster]

Breeding discus as a business is cost and labor intensive. It isn't a show tank and a couple of spares. Do the math.

 

[WyldFya]

Breeding discus as a business is cost and labor intensive. It isn't a show tank and a couple of spares. Do the math.

Always straight to the point aren't you Larry?

Larry is very VERY right here. Breeding discus in a few small tanks can help cover some of the food costs, and maybe some energy costs.

 

[apistomaster]

Always straight to the point aren't you Larry?

Larry is very VERY right here. Breeding discus in a few small tanks can help cover some of the food costs, and maybe some energy costs.

Hi C,
You know tact is not among my social skills. You have seen my fish and I'm no longer a major discus breeder because I'm working with Symphysodon discus Heckel and no-one is very successful breeding them.

RE. Wild Discus
One can only put about six large discus in a box holding twice the water weight as the same box containing 600 Cardinal Tetras. Again, do the math. I repeat, if you don't understand the cost factors that go into getting a decent fish from the source to you, then you really haven't enough of a clue to be a discus keeper. Just don't carp, buy some cheap Mbuna. I hear they're idiot proof.

Hey C,
I just won a $20 certificate from thatfishplace.com photo contest using the same photo as the avatar, Manacapuru Blue Discus, a wild caught fish for those who don't know.

 

[WyldFya]

Hey C,
I just won a $20 certificate from thatfishplace.com photo contest using the same photo as the avatar, Manacapuru Blue Discus, a wild caught fish for those who don't know.

NICE!