we need to help them........

[Rhinoboy38]

discus lovers young and old i know you done this before....i went through a fish store a few years back and this was a bad one. all the tanks where ugly and discusting dead fish in them. and then there it is. a discus tank. one of the worlds most prized fish sitting in a tank unhealthy and unhappy and because of that there coloring is pale and ugly.... i want to start a act of all the discus lovers and save these great fish from living in a pet store and dieing from poor health. look at them dont they need a happy home. so please discus lovers im calling you to help these fish live a full life in a great tank with someone that cares about the water conditions. and not just discus but all fish... its sad how they live in these tanks but i want to help. and others should help too. the discus rescue program needs to start.. please post here if you wanna help or already seen what i seen and done something about it.

[jratuszn]

I dunno if that's really a good approach- Buying them just encourages the owners to stock more. I'd suggest giving the owner a piece of your mind, and not giving them your business.

-J

[RyanH]

Hey Rhinoboy,

I sympathize with you. I have a couple of pet stores in my area that have no business selling goldfish much less Discus. However, if you buy their fish and give them money they will be more likely to replace their stock with more victims. Plus, these fish are often sick and stunted beyond help and will only be a source of frustration and disappointment. Do yourself a favor and buy from a breeder or hobbyist who actually cares about these fish and will sell you quality stock.

[April]

some of us have gotten lfs discus..and some became ok. but most..end up sick or infested with parasites..and they can also spread a virus or pathogen to your discus at home..and chance losing all your fish.
they're right. if you buy..they will figure they can sell more..and that customers accept them in that condition.
and my experience says..that lfs dont like advice..as their in the industry and know how to care for fish. ive tried. of course..there are some good lfs..who care for their discus very well. perhaps have had them themselves..
Brewmaster made a sheet of care facts that could be distributed to lfs..printed out and taken around for the owners or potential owners to know how to care for them. maybe someone can add the link..and you can print it out and give it to your lfs.

[jules]

Just as Rhinoboy mentionned, one LFS in my area has dead/dying fish in its' tanks on a regular basis. It's hard not to feel empathy for the poor fish. At another LFS the tanks are meticulous- the manager keeps Discus at home. I support this LFS and stay away from the other's livestock.

[Cosmo]

I went into an LFS with my daughter about 10-12 years ago that was family owned. Had dealt with the children before but this time the old man was there by himself.

In their Discus tank was an obviously sick fish, wobbling as he breathed with one gill completely shut. The old man came over to inquire if I wanted to buy a fish (Discus) and, nicely as I could, I informed he had a really sick fish in that tank that needed help... he flipped and asked me what I did for a living, told him that wasn't relevant I had been keeping discus for 15 years and knew this fish would die without meds.. what followed can only be described as a very heated argument with him repeating how he had owned pet stores for 25 years, and there was nothing wrong with the fish...

When we left the store, pre teen daughter said... "what a jerk that guy is, that fish was obviously sick!" Never went back inside. They were out business within a few months... fortunately for their stock..

but yeah... you buy em, they replace them and abuse the replacements... you can't buy them all

[Dkarc@Aol.com]

Brewmaster made a sheet of care facts that could be distributed to lfs..printed out and taken around for the owners or potential owners to know how to care for them. maybe someone can add the link..and you can print it out and give it to your lfs.


Yea, what ever happened to "Project Petshop"?? I was looking for it a few weeks ago but couldnt find it. Maybe Al could post it again? I would love to give some copies of it to a few LFS that are interested in discus, but are afraid of loosing the investment.

-Ryan

[Howie_W]

The only local pet stores worth buying Discus from are the ones that are true hobbyists...you know this when you meet them.

If you enjoy breeding Discus, the best thing you can do is make arrangements to become a supplier to a store that you know and trust, combined with handing out care sheets and making yourself available as a resource.


Howie

[ShinShin]

Good response, Howie. ;)

Not all LFS's carry bad discus (although, sadly, most do). There are local breeder/hobbyists who supply some LFS's with quality discus that happen to have knowledgable people running said LFS. Make yourself available to them.

On the topic of the thread, however, I neither have the cash nor the desire to be the savior of lfs discus. Why would I spend all that time and money to have a fishroom full of cull discus?