Jack Wattley Discus in Miami, FL

[adrian31@outlook.com]

Hi all,

I'm looking to add some red Discus to my 180gal and currently DiscusUSA is low on stock. A friend talked to me about their recent visit to Jack Wattley Discus in Miami, Florida. Funny that I never found them in my previous searches but they sound really good to me. Talked to Gabe there and everything needed to ship to me checks out fine.

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this supplier?

Thanks,
Kenny

[dilldiscus]

Hi all,

I'm looking to add some red Discus to my 180gal and currently DiscusUSA is low on stock. A friend talked to me about their recent visit to Jack Wattley Discus in Miami, Florida. Funny that I never found them in my previous searches but they sound really good to me. Talked to Gabe there and everything needed to ship to me checks out fine.

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this supplier?

Thanks,
Kenny

I hear the discus from him are good quality at a good price. I might buy my first discus from him soon.

[Lido]

Jack Wattley is a legend in Discus. If you look for a book on these fish, he probably wrote it. He was the go to man for knowledge on the fish in the 1980's. I know a lot has changed since those books but none the less. He has good quality fish and a sound operation. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from him.

[Willie]

Jack sold his business to Gabe almost 25 years ago and no longer has any connection. Gabe is an importer and also raises discus from other people's fry.

Nothing against Gabe, but my recommendation is to go with the sponsors here. If they ship less than top quality discus, everyone on this forum is going to know about it. They have to be super careful on quality to stay in business.

Willie

[adrian31@outlook.com]

Jack sold his business to Gabe almost 25 years ago and no longer has any connection. Gabe is an importer and also raises discus from other people's fry.

Nothing against Gabe, but my recommendation is to go with the sponsors here. If they ship less than top quality discus, everyone on this forum is going to know about it. They have to be super careful on quality to stay in business.

Willie

Thanks Willie,

I'm restricted by my shipping logistics and local import requirements. I first looked into the sponsors in Florida but couldn't find one that had a good stock of domestics (non-wilds). Unfortunately none of the other sponsors would work for me. It's too bad since I'd love to order from Kenny's Discus who was my top choice.

[DYDave82]

Adrian, check out my tank journal. My trials and tribulations have been a bit embarrassing but the latest videos are getting better. I nabbed some Red Pandas from Gabe and they have been great. Amazingly peaceful temperament and really hardy, thank goodness. My only complaint is a very little bit of peppering on a few of their noses.

[adrian31@outlook.com]

Adrian, check out my tank journal. My trials and tribulations have been a bit embarrassing but the latest videos are getting better. I nabbed some Red Pandas from Gabe and they have been great. Amazingly peaceful temperament and really hardy, thank goodness. My only complaint is a very little bit of peppering on a few of their noses.

David,

I'll check it out, thanks.

EDIT: wow those Red Pandas look beautiful. How is their color now, are they still turning more yellow or did their deep red color come back? What do you think caused the color change?

[warblad79]

Jack sold his business to Gabe almost 25 years ago and no longer has any connection. Gabe is an importer and also raises discus from other people's fry.

Nothing against Gabe, but my recommendation is to go with the sponsors here. If they ship less than top quality discus, everyone on this forum is going to know about it. They have to be super careful on quality to stay in business.

Willie

Someone mentioned at FB Gabe was using Jack wattley's name for his leverage.

[DYDave82]

David,

I'll check it out, thanks.

EDIT: wow those Red Pandas look beautiful. How is their color now, are they still turning more yellow or did their deep red color come back? What do you think caused the color change?

A slight change in diet and placement in a much larger (appropriate sized tank) made the their colors shift to the intense red in the latest video (also the blue light helps their color pop -- but the previous video was under a red light so the change is legit=). I have been very happy with Gabe's stock and his customer service. Why he doesn't sponsor here, one could only guess. I will say that after all I've learned here it is clear that his discus are mostly imported. Are these Pandas direct descendants of Wattley's -- probably not. I do enjoy them though. My advice at this point is to be sure to settle on one breeder/ importer as it can be very time consuming and stressful to mix recklessly.

[Lido]

Jack sold his business to Gabe almost 25 years ago and no longer has any connection. Gabe is an importer and also raises discus from other people's fry.

Nothing against Gabe, but my recommendation is to go with the sponsors here. If they ship less than top quality discus, everyone on this forum is going to know about it. They have to be super careful on quality to stay in business.



Willie

Hey willie, I didn't know he had no connection anymore. That's good to know. I'll PM you about something regarding discus.

[adrian31@outlook.com]

A slight change in diet and placement in a much larger (appropriate sized tank) made the their colors shift to the intense red in the latest video (also the blue light helps their color pop -- but the previous video was under a red light so the change is legit=). I have been very happy with Gabe's stock and his customer service. Why he doesn't sponsor here, one could only guess. I will say that after all I've learned here it is clear that his discus are mostly imported. Are these Pandas direct descendants of Wattley's -- probably not. I do enjoy them though. My advice at this point is to be sure to settle on one breeder/ importer as it can be very time consuming and stressful to mix recklessly.

I considered the drawback of ordering from a different supplier this time around. Still waiting for some videos from Gabe of his larger reds to see if he has some that I want.

[F-cotterell]

We ordered some striated turqoise from Gabe. The fish arrive in excellent shape and were more than we expected. He sent us a six inch male and he is gorgeous. He rules the tank. We will be ordering from him again soon.
Fred

[adrian31@outlook.com]

We ordered some striated turqoise from Gabe. The fish arrive in excellent shape and were more than we expected. He sent us a six inch male and he is gorgeous. He rules the tank. We will be ordering from him again soon.
Fred

Sounds nice. Do you have any pictures you could post?

[TexMoHoosier]

Jack sold his business to Gabe almost 25 years ago and no longer has any connection. Gabe is an importer and also raises discus from other people's fry.

Jack Wattley is 93 or 94 now. He and Gabe are still friends, but I think he has been retired for a long time.

I've never heard anywhere that he was importing and selling other peoples' fry. I do know that he at least breeds some as he's mentioned his hatchery several times and I even bought one of a pair that he was not getting what he wanted out of. He keeps a lot of Jack's classic lines going like his classic turqs. I believe coeruleas and some pandas are also Wattley originals, which Gabe still has.

I have nothing but good things to say about Gabe. I've bought all of my discus from him and have been very happy with them. He is personable and has always been responsive.

[Poppa Ryno]

Yes Jack is retired. Yes the company sold to gabe after a long friendship & partnership. Yes gabe still breeds his own fish. Last time i spoke with gabe he was NOT importing. Gabe has multiple hatcheries between florida & NJ.