Are My Discus Stunted ?

[sjumper]

Hello, all. These are my very first attempt at keeping discus. I don't know how old they are but I got them from a local breeder last November (except the Rose Red) at around 2" to 2.5". I believe these were the leftovers from his pre-Christmas batch sold to lfs. Now most are around 5".

Maybe I'm paranoid, I am concerned I haven't done a good job and stunted them. Do they look stunted?

[sjumper]

Some kind of snake.

[sjumper]

My favourite. Red Turq.

[sjumper]

Peppery Marlboro Red.

[sjumper]

Colbalt Blue

[sjumper]

Another (bigger) colbalt blue.

[sjumper]

Recently acquired Rose Red juvi.

[sjumper]

Group shot.

[peter_griffin]

I'd say yes, but I have seen alot worse. If you get on the ball with feeding and WC's they might come around. :-\

[falcon]

Who cares? Are you trying to breed them and sell them to the public? If you like them, I woundn't worry about it. They have nice colors and are nice and round. I'd say if you had them for ten years and they were only 2.5" then there would be a problem. As you say, they're 5" now. It's pretty good size and I'm sure they will still grow out a bit.

I don't know what the obsession is with runts and stunted discus. Are we all perfect as people? How would you feel if someone classified you as substandard because you're too short or too fat or too skinny....it's just silly. ::)

falcon

[sjumper]

Falcon,

Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with them. I have been doing daily 50% w/c and feeding about 4 times a day (sometimes more) with a varied diet of frozen blood worms, brine shrimp, mysis, and home-made beef heart mix. I think I have done an okay job. I am about to receive some new discus and just wanted to make sure what I'm doing isn't wrong. I know it is rare to do it right the first time; I just want to do it better for the 2nd time around.

[peter_griffin]

They are prettier than me thats for sure ;)

[sjumper]

Here is what the red turq looked like when I first got them.

[BGTW]

They are beautiful. 5 inches is good enough. IMO they will grow to upto 6 over the next year or so. They will also give you some great fry if you plan to breed them.
Bob

[RyanH]

If any are really stunted it's the one in the first cobalt pic. But I agree with the others. Your fish are obviously healthy and well cared for. That's what is really important. I wouldn't worry about it.

[sjumper]

RyanH,

Good eyes! That colbalt is barely 4". It is the pickiest when it comes to food. It pigs out on food it likes but stays away from ColorBits and Sera granules.

[Veela]

Too much color when small. What did the breeder feed them???? That's why they are small but not stunted. They were fed something extra than a normal diet I guess.
V.

[April]

id say you did excellent for your first try. and..the fact they were the leftovers..you may not have started out with the biggest and best of the spawn. or were they imports?
anyhow..they look healthy. they should grow a bit more yet. not a bad size.
now..go on and get yourself another tank and a nice new group. lol. with 50 %wcs a day and good food..you will do very well with your next group for sure. and now you know what your looking at more as far as buying. ;D

[April]

i dont think too much colour for when they were young..i think they were on the verge of runting when you got them..and you got them going just in time. i think they were alot older than their size already when you got them. already colouring up.
If any id say its the pigeon whos a bit runted. but all in all..a nice tank full of nice discus to watch swim .
most of our first discus we all got..are in discus heaven.