I'm So Excited

[Willie]

Coming to my fish room, courtesy of Miranda at Chicago Discus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K-YS1bnpjo&ab_channel=Willie

[Vanman]

Those look great. You should be exited. Be sure to post more pictures when they arrive. We like pictures.

[AquaticNerd]

Please keep us updated! I'm looking to see where you take these! :D

[brewmaster15]

Coming to my fish room, courtesy of Miranda at Chicago Discus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K-YS1bnpjo&ab_channel=Willie

CONGRATULATIONS WILLIE!

fantastic looking fish!

[SidJones]

Nice choice in fish, Willie.

[LizStreithorst]

They're stunners. Congratulations on scoring some superior fish.

[Second Hand Pat]

Super nice Willie, looking forward to seeing what you do with them :D
Pat

[jeep]

Those Panthera Leopards are sweet!!

Unfortunately I lost this one when my water went bad...

136464

[Iminit]

Willie you will be happy. Got these 2 a few months back136465. They are 2 females. Asked Miranda for a male.136466 sent me the one up front. And this is where I am now.136467

[Discus Fever]

Great looking discus you will love those when you receive them.

[Zeus Discus]

Those are really incredible! Killer shape and spots! I think my next discus will be from Chicago Discus.

[Discus Fever]

Very nice fish!!!

[Willie]

These guys are still in Chicago! :)


http://youtu.be/1mLJORBosn4

[brewmaster15]

Guess I need to get on the list here too Willie! :)

Al

[Willie]

A fellow enthusiasts saw my guys and ordered these Batik Eruptions from Miranda.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ukqPNx0V-c&t=13s&ab_channel=Willie

[brewmaster15]

Willie when are you getting yours?

Al

[Willie]

I'm picking up both batches of fish from Chicago Discus on Columbus Day weekend. Got my quarantine tank all ready to go!

[brewmaster15]

Exciting indeed!
Al

[Willie]

That Panthera Leopard pair went into my quarantine tank last night and I see the male already starting to twitch. Female has prominent Heckel-like bars (not sure why as there's no recent Heckle cross in their lineage - that I'm aware of).


http://youtu.be/gT4D_0tpD60

[CliffsDiscus]

Awesome!

Cliff

[Charlyc11]

Beautiful Willie

[seanyuki]

Nice looking pair.

[brewmaster15]

Beautiful Fish Willie! They have seriously nice shape! Congratulations!

Al

[Willie]

There's pretty serious discus at Chicago Discus when I stopped by on Sunday. Since I had already ordered my fish, my attempt to take pictures were pathetic. No special lights, no framing... Still the fish were worth sharing. These Red Alenquers were much better than what I've seen posted elsewhere.

136771

136772

Gold something or other... Seeing an entire group is usually the best way to assess shape and quality.

136773

This is a terrible picture of a mixed tank, but the Heckle crosses were very nice.

136774

Finally, here's something to drool over. Miranda had special ordered a pair of Ring Leopards. Again not a great picture, but you can see these guys are 7"+ and perfect in every way.

136775

[Tshethar]

Wow. Those leopards are something for sure. Like the Alenquers and the Heckel-crosses, too. I was thinking about going that route after you told me I shouldn't keep Heckels. :mad: (jk!) Personally I think the prominent 5th bar is kinda cool on your fish.

[Chicago Discus]

Willie, I definitely am not hiring you to take pictures for us! The Alenquers look good, but here's a better picture of the Goldens:

136776

And those Heckel Crosses barely show up! Here's a slightly better picture. It is a mixed tank because there are only a few of each of these strains left this month.

136777

And the big beautiful Ring Leopard pair gets shipped out tonite!

136778

[Willie]

Wow. Those leopards are something for sure. Like the Alenquers and the Heckel-crosses, too. I was thinking about going that route after you told me I shouldn't keep Heckels. :mad: (jk!) Personally I think the prominent 5th bar is kinda cool on your fish.

Bill;

The Heckel crosses are a great compromise that should thrive in regular tap water. The two on the left have spots (probably from a cross to a leopard), which is very rare.

Willie

[AquaticNerd]

Willie, I definitely am not hiring you to take pictures for us! The Alenquers look good, but here's a better picture of the Goldens:

136776

And those Heckel Crosses barely show up! Here's a slightly better picture. It is a mixed tank because there are only a few of each of these strains left this month.

136777

And the big beautiful Ring Leopard pair gets shipped out tonite!

136778

Those Ring Leopards - WOW WOW WOW!

[Willie]

If you're ever in Chicago, be sure to visit Miranda and Josie. Here's a quick shot of their front yard with bee hives in the distance.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce-IycP3xV4&ab_channel=Willie

Winding back, you get to see awesome bonsai trees and competition grade koi. There are also ducks and fancy chickens.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8FOJ5fAzSQ&ab_channel=Willie

The century old Japanese maple at ~38 sec will turn bright red soon. And you see Miranda and my wife right before I pan to the koi pond.

[Tshethar]

I was just watching a video tour a few days ago that had been posted of their place... including the yard! I admit I am impressed as I have tried (and mostly failed) at managing to keep up with fun projects like "edible landscaping" along with my fish... read up on bees but wisely realized I didn't have time.... neglected my vermicomposter... once dug a goldfish pond at our old place (and enjoyed it--they bred like crazy) but the filter filled with muck awfully quickly... always fantasized about koi, too.

Would definitely enjoy the visit and may yet... ideally when I have tank space!

[AquaticNerd]

If you're ever in Chicago, be sure to visit Miranda and Josie. Here's a quick shot of their front yard with bee hives in the distance.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce-IycP3xV4&ab_channel=Willie

Winding back, you get to see awesome bonsai trees and competition grade koi. There are also ducks and fancy chickens.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8FOJ5fAzSQ&ab_channel=Willie

The century old Japanese maple at ~38 sec will turn bright red soon. And you see Miranda and my wife right before I pan to the koi pond.

Fantastic videos! I think I've finally found a way to convince my wife to make a trip to Chicago next time I'm in the market for discus - that garden is to die for and she would absolutely love it!

[Willie]

An update on the Panthera Leopards from Chicago Discus. After lots of cone cleaning, they spawned Wednesday afternoon. The spawn looks promising and I expect wrigglers Saturday. (Just picked these up from Miranda two weeks prior.)


http://youtu.be/2sMyUO6GoWM

Sorry for the bad lighting, but it's just me sprawled in front of the tank shooting with an old iPhone (and the parents fending me off).

[seanyuki]

Nice looking discus.

[Willie]

Thanks, Francis. I'm intrigued by that middle stripe - is that a Heckel bar? Did Robert Lim do a wild cross previously? Whatever he did, the shape is great on these fish.

[brewmaster15]

Beautiful Willie and congrats! They wasted no time!:)

al

[AquaticNerd]

Excited to hear the good news! Can't wait to see how the fry turn out :D

[Iminit]

Congrats and good luck!

[Charlyc11]

Those are some beautiful discus they should produce more of the same (beautiful).

Chuck

[Willie]

Small spawn for the first time, but a success nevertheless.


http://youtu.be/gPI77fY3pFc

[brewmaster15]

Willie congrats.. I wonder if they will spawn again real soon..Im guessing yes. i like how both have darkened up for parenting mode. Looks like you got yourself a well behaved set of parents. Good Luck!
Al

[CliffsDiscus]

Willie, Awesome keep use updated.

Cliff

[jeep]

If you're ever in Chicago, be sure to visit Miranda and Josie. Here's a quick shot of their front yard with bee hives in the distance.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce-IycP3xV4&ab_channel=Willie

Winding back, you get to see awesome bonsai trees and competition grade koi. There are also ducks and fancy chickens.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8FOJ5fAzSQ&ab_channel=Willie

The century old Japanese maple at ~38 sec will turn bright red soon. And you see Miranda and my wife right before I pan to the koi pond.

When I was there it was below zero and there was snow on the ground. I still found it absolutely amazing! It was hard to believe this little piece of the country side was actually on a corner lot in Chicago.

[Willie]

When I was there it was below zero and there was snow on the ground. I still found it absolutely amazing! It was hard to believe this little piece of the country side was actually on a corner lot in Chicago.

Miranda keeps $1,000 - $10,000 kois in an open pond without netting. So far, there's been no predation from raccoons, eagles, neighborhood kids...

[brewmaster15]

Miranda keeps $1,000 - $10,000 kois in an open pond without netting. So far, there's been no predation from raccoons, eagles, neighborhood kids...

Shes very brave. I was hosting a Northeast Discus meeting here. We were on the deck talking and one of the guys..think it was Mark... said "hey al"? "Al theres a bird eating your Koi". Literally right there in front of us was a heron and it had my biggest koi. Within 2 days mine and my neighbors ponds were empty.. last time I had koi in the pond.lol.

[Discus Fever]

Willie keep us posted on this pair looks like your well on your way on having a baby factory on your hands. LOL

[Willie]

A week later, I have 20 - 30 fry on the parents. They're been feeding on baby brine shrimp for just the second day at this point.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU_D8eMD4bM&ab_channel=Willie

[jeep]

This is awesome Willie!! I absolutely love these Panthera Leopards. Please let me know if you ever decide to part with some. Out of all my losses this summer, the Panthera Leopard was the hardest to accept...

[brewmaster15]

Congrats Willie! Looking great so far!

[Willie]

This is awesome Willie!! I absolutely love these Panthera Leopards. Please let me know if you ever decide to part with some. Out of all my losses this summer, the Panthera Leopard was the hardest to accept...

:thumbsup:

[seanyuki]

Looking good Willie that discus pair, as for discus shows around the world, yr good friend Linda Oi is pretty updated.

[LizStreithorst]

I miss Linda. I wish she would join us once again.

[seanyuki]

Linda Oi sends her best regards to you.


I miss Linda. I wish she would join us once again.

[Willie]

Just about 2 weeks free swimming, these guys are busy picking freshly hatched brine shrimp off the bottom. Will be switching them to shredded beefheart over the weekend.


http://youtu.be/wdpigF3bzu8

[Discus Fever]

Willie they are looking great, looks like you will have more discus down the road. ;)

[Willie]

Time to let go.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BcE3RUkllY&ab_channel=Willie

These guys were spawned 31 days ago and have been free swimming for 24 - 25 days. I would usually keep the spawn with the parents for at least a month, but they have developed extremely well. Now the parents will get some alone time.

[AquaticNerd]

Willie - they're looking great for only being a month old. Can't wait to see how they develop :D

[Discus Fever]

Willie you are doing a great job, can't wait to see the update video's of the fry in their growing stages

[Red Eye.]

very Posh.....Uk

[Willie]

After a week by themselves, they got bored...

137772

[Red Eye.]

Beautiful Fish......what water parameters works for you.

[Willie]

I live in an apartment in St. Paul, MN, so there's no room for R/O, etc. My tap water is conditioned by aeration for 24 hours and goes into the tank at pH 8.0 with 145 ppm TDI. High quality fish in warm, clean water with high protein food, i.e. beef heart, is all that's required.

Having said that, not all discus will spawn. I purchased 4 of these and got this one pair. A friend purchased 5 and got two pairs.

[brewmaster15]

Wish my tap was 145 ppm! Good for you Willie! ALWAYS best when its easiest way that works.

[brewmaster15]

Willie how are the first batch doing here? Hows the pattern?

Al

[jwcarlson]

I'm not sure how I missed this thread, but those babies look like they grew like weeds! Amazing fish as always, Willie!