Re: First attempt at breeding Discus - Log
Congrats on your first attempt at breeding. By the looks of it, you've been at this hobby for quite some time. You must be enjoying the hobby. I'm very curious and interested at your unconventional methods of raising discus. thanks for posting. Wish you luck and success.
Re: First attempt at breeding Discus - Log
Quote:
Originally Posted by
shawnhu
They're about 5-6 inches TL.
The ammonia is indeed 4 ppm, not .4. This isn't the first time I've raised Discus to adults in ammonia levels that would make others cringe.
I'll explain why this works once I get some pictures up.
Pics!
Re: First attempt at breeding Discus - Log
Quote:
Originally Posted by
shawnhu
Here's a quick pic taken just minutes ago. Water level has gone from 5 gallon to about 7 now.
Ok I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination and I understand that you are breeding in a very unconventional way but my first question is why? Why would you risk disease and harm to yor fry by breeding in such an unsanitary tank. The only thing I can come up with is that your attempting to breed a stronger strain of Discus by breeding in unsanitary conditions. I'm just curious about what your trying to accomplish..............Josie
Re: First attempt at breeding Discus - Log
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ChicagoDiscus
Ok I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination and I understand that you are breeding in a very unconventional way but my first question is why? Why would you risk disease and harm to yor fry by breeding in such an unsanitary tank. The only thing I can come up with is that your attempting to breed a stronger strain of Discus by breeding in unsanitary conditions. I'm just curious about what your trying to accomplish..............Josie
or just could feel.. the "norm".. is really just overkill.. and not needed and wants to prove a point.. could be either way
Re: First attempt at breeding Discus - Log
shawn, sorry it took me a bit to jump over from my thread and read yours. thanks for starting this thread! love the portion of "some are afraid of a little poop and ammonia" ;) i go in and out of reading SD over time but i get the impression that people are afraid of the overall quality of discus decreasing due to raising fish in bad quality parameters, bad breeding stock, etc. yet the truth is that it's like that right now... i see them quite often! even fish that were originally high quality but became low quality due to LFS not taking good care of them. so when i see someone else just experimenting in their own realm with no intentions to sell "experimental" fish then they seem to be timid to post on here. now, maybe i can talk with SD administrators and see if there's a button we could click that would pop up a "disclaimer" at the beginning of our posts that read: "The following thread creator has no intention of distributing his or her fish. This is only a test. The thread creator is fully aware of what are acceptable parameters (even though they may not abide by them at all times) " :P
not knocking anyone on here since many have helped me before and offered advice and/or compliments, but "the world's not flat". the more columbus-types we got out there then the more tricks of the trade will be figured out (with probably 100x more blunders... comes with the territory though).
Re: First attempt at breeding Discus - Log
I'm in the same shoes as you pastry, lots of folks have helped me here on Simply, and I've met a lot of them in person, they really are great people. However, I don't understand this notion that breeding or the simple fact of caring for Discus must be followed a certain way. It almost seems cult-ish around here as of late. What ever happened to the guys that would experiment, explore, and expand on the hobby? What ever happened to the folks that did this for the hobby, and not always looking to raise NADA quality fish? Do they exist anymore?
Make no mistake, I don't make a living from raising my Discus, or will I get a check in the mail for having pretty Discus. This is a hobby for me, one that I enjoy more than others from time to time. I appreciate those that have commented with no ill intentions, but for those that look down upon others for doing things the unconventional way, need to get off your high horses and reflect back on how we all got here. Here in the US, we still celebrate Columbus day, you know - the explorer.
Re: First attempt at breeding Discus - Log
Sadly I agree with Pastry and Shawnu. Its sad because i think it turns off new hobbyist getting into discus. But I guess in the end, the forum is still a great source of information and I believe they all mean well and care for the hobby. We don't all have to agree. Best way to learn is to experience yourself, so personally i may seek advice, listen to all advice but in the end make my own decision. That to me is part of enjoying the hobby.
Re: First attempt at breeding Discus - Log
Hi OC,
As Jdizon20 has stated, the fact that most of the threads of breeding and caring for Discus is 100% bare bottom, almost sterile enviornments with 100% water changes, twice a day really does turn off a lot of new hobbyists. IMO, a good hobbyist will not only enjoy their hobby, but also make it affordable and introduce others to their hobby to have it continue. I find keeping and raising Discus no different. How many threads do you see Discus being raised in smaller than "ideal" tanks? You yourself saw the reaction and confusion to the 4 ppm of ammonia that I posted, and the 10G tank size perhaps even being a typo. This is the mind-set that is instilled on many members here, and perhaps everywhere else. Chad Hughes was forced to raise his contest fish under unconventional methods due to the expense of his water bills. Did he give up? No. He did a fantasitc job at raising his Discus. I don't see this any different.
P.S. Nitrite, while deadly in normal conditions, the addition of salt can prevent any ill effects from Nitrite poisoning.
P.P.S. There are no Nitrite in any of my tanks, as this tank and all of my tanks are established tanks with Nitrate being the end result of the Nitrification Cycle. The sign that there is ammonia does not alone indicate an un-cycled tank.
Re: First attempt at breeding Discus - Log
I am curious now. What is the source of the ammonia then?