Sort by size?

[KJoFan]

I was just curious how people handled various sizes or growth rates in any given tank full of discus. For instance, say you start with a tank of 6 2.5" juvies to grow them out. As time goes by there's always a couple that grow faster than the rest, and generally one that's smallest. Do you leave them all together and let them continue that way (the smallest may or may not get picked on, pushed out at feeding time) or if you have other tanks of various sized discus do you separate them out such that you have tanks full of similar sized discus, whether they be similar aged or not?

As for myself, I think I've done a little of both. But I'm wondering what you all do or think is the "best" (this is of course subjective to your goals and whatnot) way to approach an issue like that? I suppose my line of thinking on splitting them into similar size is that they should have a somewhat fair chance overall at feeding time, or at least be able to hold their own against those of the same size as opposed to one twice as big.

Thoughts?

[bastalker]

Hey Karen. I started out as a glutton!! While I was advised against it, I still wanted to stick 10 in a 55G. I was advised a few months later to get rid of some in which I reluctantly did. I let 4 of them go. The six I had left grew great but 2 of them ended up on the small size. Still good shape an all but only about 4.5" compared to the 6" of the others.

I wouldn't part with any of them though! They get along great an will continue to do so as long as I have em! There just gonna get a bigger house...:D

tc
Mark

[Harriett]

When I buy discus, I always get a few more than I ultimately want to end up with. I will usually see the same pattern you are describing: one or two bigger guys, several medium about the same, and one or two that are shrimpier or not as nice as they grow out. I buy more for 2 obvious reasons: discus feel more secure and are more relaxed [stay healthier and grow better] if there is a gang of them--at least 6, and I try to get 8-9 if I want 6....I grow them out, and at 6-8 months I can really see what's what for size, shape, composure, color--then I decide who's staying and who's going and find homes for the ones I don't want, making back my investment from buying them.
Hope this helps
Harriett

[KJoFan]

Thanks Harriett. What/where do you go with the ones you don't want to keep? I will be getting to that point soon I think and am not sure where to go with them. I'm not sure I'm comfortable selling them to other hobbyists knowing they are ones I don't want to keep. So, any advice on that from anyone would also be appreciated.

What I ended up doing, was moving the largest one in the tank to a tank with similar sized discus. That may give a chance for the laggers to catch up as they are still young enough to get some good growth out of them. I noticed one was trying to eat but spitting, and getting chased off by the larger couple. I am figuring it's just stress, so thought I would try to lower the stress level in the tank and see how that goes.

[Harriett]

Karen,
I completely get where you are coming from....
Pretty much how I see it is one person's junk is another's treasure. I think there are lots of folks who either are beginners [it's how we all began the hobby] and ANY discus they have and can manage to keep alive is a success and a learning experience, and personal taste accounts for the other group. I think if I want to give away or sell a fish and I tell folks and they see the fish and they like it, that's ethical and I'm good with it. I've developed a more discerning eye as I've learned more, about what I want to add or keep in my collection--I have lots of imperfect discus that I keep and like a whole lot---we all have those.
I don't think it's much different than selling a piece of used furniture--it's clearly been used, has lots of life left in it, somebody likes it more than I and wants to have it...good deal all around--don't sweat the ethics, just be honest---you want to sell a [healthy] discus, does Joe Schmo want to buy it?
Getting rid of them: I have given discus away to friends or swapped them in trade, and I am lucky enough to have an arrangement with a LFS that my son works at--there are 2 or 3 customers who keep discus--when I have something to sell, Chris approaches them and pretty much someone always buys what I have. I am now at the point where I have quit buying and am trying to thin out what I have and will, if I have a brain in my head, just get to where the collection is down to my faves and I will have fewer tanks and work. I am kind of over my head with what I have, time wise.
What you did with your guys in terms of moving them around and your thought process makes sense to me.
Best regards
Harriett

[KJoFan]

Thanks yet again Harriett. Our local club holds an auction a couple times a year and I was considering taking some of my "extras" to it to sell. That is, if I can decide what I want to get rid of by then. :) But, I was struggling with the fact that if I don't want them why would anyone else? But then reading your response I think this actually would be a good place to unload my extras. People have the opportunity to view the fish firsthand prior to bidding/buying. So they know exactly what they are getting. Of course, if they are just absolute culls I wouldn't "pawn" them off on anyone, but there are some that just don't quite measure up considering my goal is to get some pairs and try my hand at breeding. They are still perfectly fine fish, IMO. Like you, I am slowing down on the buying and need to reassess my collection and whittle down to want I really want to focus on. Again, thanks so much for sharing your viewpoint and experience in this.

[tonymaccs]

Hi Karen,
This is an interesting topic with a lot of facets.
Firstly discus are similar to any other species or animal where a large variation in size will occur through either genetic predisposition or environmental factors. For serious breeders the underlying causes are important, but not so much for the hobbyist which is why I don't have an issue with passing on those that dont suit my particular purposes, as long as they are healthy.

It's also interesting how group make-up and dynamics manifests in size. A few months ago I split a group of 40 juveniles according to size and ended up with 16 in the large group and 24 in the smaller group. Both groups ended up in the same size tanks and received exactly the same size feeding and water change regimens. Within 6 weeks it was difficult to tell the difference between the groups except for one monster in the large group and one runt in the smaller group. Soon I will split both the groups again by size and see what develops. It seems like a good way to end up with a reasonably uniform size from one brood.

Unfortunately it's not easy to do this with only a group of say 6 or less, unless you have others to join them to maintain their social comfort.

Tony

[KJoFan]

I would say from reading your post Tony that you aim to do what I've been doing to a degree. What it was was that I had 6 in a tank, I got them all from Kenny at the same time. The 4 RGD's I got were a bit smaller than the 2 Albino Cobalts I got but they were close enough that I felt they could all go in one tank together. And it's worked out well. Now, the one albino (although it looks more like something else, it's darker than the other) has grown faster than all the rest, even the other albino. I didn't think too much of it as the 4 RGD's are varying size as well, one small one, one large one, two in between. But when feeding time comes and the smallest one is being pushed off the food despite it being spread throughout the tank then I get concerned. I don't want it getting stressed and eventually sick. I have 4 snakeskins in a 55 so there's room in there and the largest of the albino's is nearly their size so..in it went with them leaving 5 in the original tank. 5 may not be as good as 6 but I feel it's still alright. I will keep watching though and see if anything changes. Thanks for the input, I find this an interesting topic. :)

[tonymaccs]

It will be interesting to see how the big albino asserts itself in the ranking in the new environment, and also how the five remaining re-establish themselves.
There is also the option of putting them with other suitable fish if the numbers aren't sufficient. A few months ago I received a shipment of 3cm Geo Leucosticta which are very passive, but also have ravenous appetites. At the same time I obtained 4 white diamond juvies around 6cm and had only one tank available for Qt. I reluctantly put them together as I didn't want to risk my other stock. I was lucky with the disease issue, but one great benefit was the white diamonds learned almost immediately they had to compete hard for their food and were extremely aggresive in chasing the FBW chunks around the tank to beat the Geos!
It was a pretty successful partnership that I will keep in mind for the future.
Tony

[KJoFan]

The "albino" that doesn't look so much like one:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/KJoFan/DSC04590.jpg

[Harriett]

Karen, you're very welcome---that's what hobbyists do, much like gardeners--try it, keep it, dump it, get something else that looks interesting!
ENJOY!
Harriett