Is it OK to pet your discus?

[tpl*co]

OK, my discus are so tame that at feeding time they come up and rub against my hand like cats (especially my pigeons). They seem to enjoy me stroking them around their heads and dorsal fins. Can this hurt them or their slime coat if I just lightly pet them? (they are so soft too).

[discusboy777]

i was wandering the same thing. mine do that to me every time i put my hand in the tank even during water changes.

i read somewere that it removes ther slime layer wich is ther first line of defense.

hth

[John_Nicholson]

I heard it causes blindness....................

-john

[Neil1_2]

even i have heard myths about the slime.. but wat the hell.. i love to touch them.. and i do it all the time....

[tpl*co]

blindness for the fish or the petter??? :o

[Howie_W]

I heard it causes blindness....................

-john


John,

Don't you mean sterility? :shocked: :lipsrseal




Howie

[RandalB]

Hair on palms, etc.. LOL

It never bothered my fish. I had a blue diamond that you could pick up with your hand and move it from tank to tank. The only time it wouldn't let you touch it was when the eggs/Wigglers were on the cone. Then it would nip me when I put a hand in the tank to wipe the glass...

RandalB

[John_Nicholson]

Randal glad someone caught it....LOL.

I often move my bigger fish from tank to tank with my hands. No problem for the fish.

-john

[fishfarm]

As long as your hands are wet, it's fine, I move my big fish that way all the time to avoid the net rash big fish get when you move them,
John, I'm never shaking hands with you again. LOL Ken

[Giniel]

All of mine except for my 1 wild and the new ones that just came in gladly come to be "petted"
Debbie