What's the best discus???

[Barney]

I want to start a new tank but I don't know which discus to get! ???

[United21Soccer]

Red melons ;D ;D

[Carol_Roberts]

The best discus is a healthy discus from a reputable supplier - any color you like ;D

[Howie_W]

Hi Barney,

Welcome to the forum! Tells us a little bit about your plans;

Will this be your first Discus set-up? Carol's suggestion is one of the most important factors to consider in selecting your new fish. After that, cost is often an issue, especially when you'll be buying at least six or more. Getting a handful of juveniles and growing them out to full size will cost less than buying adults...plus it's a lot of fun!

Howie

[aggie_67]

The downside of buying juveniles is I bought 8 from one of the most highly thought of breeder on this forum and after 6 months none of them look anything like those on his website.

[Carol_Roberts]

That's pretty common with your first batch. I ended up with one decent snakeskin out of my first group. There is an art to keeping discus and a learning curve.

Try bigger fish this time. Generally, the older strains (red turks, pigeons, cobalts, SS) usually grow better and are hardier than the newer snowflakes and leopards

[Discus_Newbie19]

Best ones to get are Healthy ones like carol said.

[aggie_67]

Agree there is a learning curve to keeping discus, due to this forum I have done very well with my fish. They have grown and are healthy, some are big and round too. Only problem is the fish from some breeders don't look like the pictures on their web site.

My learning curve is don't trust the pictures on the websites, they are probably the best the breeders has ever done. The ones you receive will probably not look that good. Know bigger fish are more expensive, buy as big as you can afford. Better to buy one good fish, rather than many small fish with the plan of culling, might not be any real good ones in the batch.

I always advice the first time discus keepers to buy only a few 3-4 larger fish about 4-5" instead of a group of small 2". They are more forgiving and provide a smoother learning curve. As for which type of discus. As long as they are healthy and begging for food constantly. Even a stunted deformed discus will be a pleasure to keep.
Jimmy.

[aggie_67]

Jimmy,

I agree!!! That's what makes it so bad. I love all my discus, they are like my kids. Don't know how anyone could cull.

[Benis]

Hello All,
That sounds bad. It's the second time in my life that I'm going to buy some discus and I'm worried now. My first experience was a bad one all the way around :'(Should everyone stay away from buying samml discus ???

[Carol_Roberts]

What are samml discus?

[Benis]

Carol,
Sorry small discus ;D

[Carol_Roberts]

With proper care healthy discus of any agre will grow out nicely. With that said you have a better chance of ending up with a 6+ inch fish if you buy a fish that is already 5 inches. At that size you don't have to guess what the color and pattern will be. Most of the discus I buy are 3-4 inches

[Benis]

What if they are under the 3" & 4" and you have a group of 12 ???