NEW TO DISCUS (HELP ! ) [Archive]

BENJIE

03-31-2004, 11:08 AM

HELLO .. I HAVE BEEN READING ALOT ABOUT DISCUS FROM THE THREADS AND HAVE A PROBLEM I HAVE RAISE TROPICAL FISH FOR 22 YEARS AND DO WELL WITH MOST FISH... I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO RAISE AND BREED DISCUS I JUST LOVE THE WAY THEY LOOK IN A TANK.... I HAVE BOUGHT A FEW FROM LFS AND GOT SOME BAD FISH ( WELL FISH POORLY TAKING CARE OF BY LFS) AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO MY BETTER JUDGEMENT PURCHASED THEM ANY WAY....THEY SOON DIED... WELL AFTER LOOKING FOR SOME TIME I FOUND A LOCL PERSON WHO RAISES DISCUS AND PURCASHED 4 DIME SIZED RED MELON DISCUS..HERE IS MY PROBLEM THEM SEEM SMALL FOR THERE AGE WHICH IS 2 MONTHS... I HAVE SINCE LEARNED FORM THE PICS AND THREADS THAT THEY SHOULD BE BIGGER AND THIER SHAPE IS NOT ROUND AS IT SHOULD BE AND BUT MORE TRIANGELIAR.... MY QUESTION IS HOW ARE CAN I CORRECT THIS .... I KNOW I HAVE TO RE-THINK MY ORIGINAL PLAN TO RAISE THEM IN A COMMUNITY TANK WHICH IS A 55 GAL. WITH UNDER GRAVEL FILTER WITH TWO POWER HEADS, AND A HANG OFF THE BACK AUQUA CLEAR FILTER....... I HAVE PLASTIC PLANTS WITH A FEW LIVE PLANTS AND TWO PIECES OF DRIFT WOOD ......MY WATER IS 7.8 PH NITRATES 20 NITRITES 0 PPM AND SOFT WATER ( TEST STRIP) NOT SURE OF THE NUMBER...TEMP 82 F- 84 F.... I HAVE AS TANK MATES 6 NEONS 5 BLACK NEONS 3 HACTHET FISH 2 CORY CATS 1 PLECO... I CHANGE OUT 20 GALS OF WATER EVERY 2 DAYS........I KNOW THAT I WIL HAVE TO SET UP A 30 BB TANK TO GROW THE DISCUS OUT .. BUT WILL THIS HELP THE ONES I HAVE ALREADY ARE SHOULD I START WITH SOME NEW DISCUS... SORRY ABOUTTHE LONG LETTER ... TANKS FOR ANY HELP ..

PS. I HAVE LEARN A LOT BY READING ALL OF YOUR THREADS YOU ALL ARE GREAT TANKS AGAIN BENJIE :D

1977

03-31-2004, 02:59 PM

If their growth has been stunted by poor water conditions or improper feeding it may be too late to have them looking the best they could have. It is a good opportunity to get familiar raising discus and caring for them properly so I would just work with what you have for now, maybe pick up a couple more if you could because it's best to have 5 or 6 discus minimum when they are juvs. Feed them heavily(5 or so times per day) and do as big of water changes you can as often as possible and they may end up looking good in the end. Good luck!