Anyone heard of "live aquaria"?

[MD.David]

I've been raising aquatic creatures including discus for the better part of 15 years and Working at breeding them for two years.
I have never heard of this company but on there home page it appears they are very sick and stunted discus.
Anyone ever heard of thes guys?
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=830+834

[Quintin]

Just checked out the link.fish definately look sick and stunted.their advice on keeping discus is way out too.
Stay away

[SNap0283]

10 seconds after clicking on the link I don't need to go any further. The pictures on a site should showcase the best of the best of the fish they produce. The pictures on that site look worse than my runts. Not to mention the prices are double what many of the sponsors here charge. Their prices are $70+ for 3 inch fish....

[DISCUS STU]

This is the livestock arm of Drs. Fosters & Smith, a reputable dry goods supplier but not one that is known for selling anything living. They get posted here about once a month.

These sites always sell small fish at expensive big fish prices.

You can tell somethings wrong when even the pictures of the fish look sad and sickly.

[MD.David]

Im not such of an expert in discus names, but I don't think this picture is a checker board.
Also I was under the impression that discus are not to be fed "Tubiflex worms", but low-and-behold they are Recommending this is what to feed them.
Also, I really hope my "checkerboard discus" grows to 8 inches all the time!
All I can say is Wow!
This is actually sad mates!
http://i64.tinypic.com/2ufalg7.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

I've been raising aquatic creatures including discus for the better part of 15 years and Working at breeding them for two years.
I have never heard of this company but on there home page it appears they are very sick and stunted discus.
Anyone ever heard of thes guys?
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=830+834

Yup, other members actually ordered fish from them and it was not pretty. Consider our sponsors here for healthy, quality fish. :)
Pat

[DISCUS STU]

It's easy to laugh at sellers like these until you realize that some poor, or one that became poorer, unfortunate hobbyist actually bought and will buy this stuff.

They're probably not the worst offenders. That distinction belongs to "Something **ishy".

[DISCUS STU]

Im not such of an expert in discus names, but I don't think this picture is a checker board.
Also I was under the impression that discus are not to be fed "Tubiflex worms", but low-and-behold they are Recommending this is what to feed them.
Also, I really hope my "checkerboard discus" grows to 8 inches all the time!
All I can say is Wow!
This is actually sad mates!
http://i64.tinypic.com/2ufalg7.jpg

They may be referring to freeze dried Tubifex, which is a viable food, depending on the seller.

[DJW]

Unfortunately, many people think those big eyes are 'cute'.

[MD.David]

Might look cute and funny on cartoons but not my discus please!
Very interesting other people's perception.

http://i68.tinypic.com/wcn4w5.jpg

http://i66.tinypic.com/10cvugx.jpg


Unfortunately, many people think those big eyes are 'cute'.

[aqua-nut]

Live Aquaria and it's more specialized arm, Diver's Den, are well respected online stores for marine organisms.

Since I'm new to Discus, I thought those pics were OK. I now see the difference. Perhaps LA needs to be schooled?

[Jenny]

Oh, guys. I feel so bad for my poor fish. Bred into the life of live aquaria. I literally decided I wanted discus BEFORE I got my first tank, and I thought these were pretty. HAD NO IDEA what a healthy discus looked like when I ordered from my local PETCO They get their special order fish from these guys, and my discus were a special order fish. I paid $40 each for my 2.5 inch discus. They come "assorted" so I had no idea what strains or colors I would be receiving. I thought that they looked round, but after I furthered my research, found my discus are stunted. Then went back and looked at the website and all the discus on there are. I've not had them long and don't know what I should do from here. I don't want football shaped, tiny-bodied, large eyed discus. And I don't really want to cull them, because the poor guys have probably already had a TERRIBLE life since they were born, but I don't want to have any new discus I order from somewhere else to die because I am mixing them and they are immune to different things. I got myself into more than I bargained for.

[Jenny]

http://i66.tinypic.com/30lgfhj.jpg

[rickztahone]

Oh, guys. I feel so bad for my poor fish. Bred into the life of live aquaria. I literally decided I wanted discus BEFORE I got my first tank, and I thought these were pretty. HAD NO IDEA what a healthy discus looked like when I ordered from my local PETCO They get their special order fish from these guys, and my discus were a special order fish. I paid $40 each for my 2.5 inch discus. They come "assorted" so I had no idea what strains or colors I would be receiving. I thought that they looked round, but after I furthered my research, found my discus are stunted. Then went back and looked at the website and all the discus on there are. I've not had them long and don't know what I should do from here. I don't want football shaped, tiny-bodied, large eyed discus. And I don't really want to cull them, because the poor guys have probably already had a TERRIBLE life since they were born, but I don't want to have any new discus I order from somewhere else to die because I am mixing them and they are immune to different things. I got myself into more than I bargained for.

I sympathize with you because many members on here have gone through the exact same thing. If you do not have the heart to cull them, then take them back to the LFS and get credit and buy some equipment or something. Nuke your tank and start all over and buy from one of our sponsors.

[Jenny]

What if they wont take the fish back and give me store credit?

[DISCUS STU]

What if they wont take the fish back and give me store credit?

Hey Jenny. Sorry to see this kind of trouble with someone new getting into this. I don't know what total investment you've made but if they won't take them back or give you store credit it may be better to cut your losses and give them to someone or to a lfs as a donation. Yes, this may be just transferring the problem to someone else but what alternative is there to raising something you don't want?

Discus are beautiful fish but compared to most other tropicals they are "high maintenance" and need to be understood that way otherwise the results could be disappointing. BB tanks (bare bottom), frequent water changes for excellent water quality, high protein foods, etc. make keeping Discus almost a calling (lol).

Here's a link to this site that shows what's possible under the right conditions, see the YouTube vid.
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?122438-Welp