Let's "Discus" discus prize

[LLK]

Hi all,

I am from Malaysia and our Penang state is one of the world major exporter.
So I am curious whether out Discus price is cheaper or more expensive compare to exported discus coz importer will buy in bulk.
If you guys dont mind, pls give some input on the average price of your discuss.

I will start of but I usually survey only highbody discus.

Highbody (3")
Leopard (dot) = USD45
Leopard snake = USD70
Leopard snake (ring) = USD100
Blue diamond = USD15

Round (not high body/ fin)
Leopard (dot) = USD15
Leopard snake = USD35
Leopard snake (ring) = USD50
Cobalt/melon/blue diamond and old "fashion" fish are below USD10

[brewmaster15]

Hi LLk,
This is a difficult question to answer because here in the USA most people don't import discus themselves. What happens is others import in bulk and resell..

My guess is because of the additional middlemen , and losses in transit , The prices are probably comparable or even more expensive for same quality... (thats a very important aspect to this)

My advice to you is to look at our sponsor section and see what the sponsors here are selling particular fish at... These are the importers so that should give you a good idea as to price and quality comparisons.

Hth,
al

[LLK]

Okay, I think I got what you mean. I will check it out.
FYI, the prices that I quoted are actually retail price in Kuala Lumpur. It is more expensive in Kuala Lumpur compared to Penang.
Sometimes, I will drive to Penang (3 to 4 hrs drive) just to purchase some discus.
According to Penang's dealers/ retailers, our discus are much cheaper cos no shipping and other expenses are involved BUT, they also said that high quality fishes will be exported.
It is kinda hard to get high quality discus in petshop unless from home breeder. Most high quality discus comes from farm and they are only interested in selling in bulk or export.
We will also need to buy in bulk in order to get high quality discus or they will be exported.

1 more thing.
Eventhough Malaysia is an exporter, I will bet you can hardly find discus fans. Only 5-10% of petshop are selling them. Maybe discus market were "killed" by flowerhorn

[brewmaster15]

Thats interesting... many here think that Malaysia is the land of Milk and Honey for discus...that high quality discus are everywhere and the norm...

thanks for an alternative point of view.:)

-al

[LizStreithorst]

LLK, I find this information very interesting. In this country we've been told that the highest quality Discus go to Japan, and we get grade B here in the States. I'm sure that's true as a general rule, but since I've been in Discus, there have always been a couple of breeders bringing in top quality Asian fish.

Like Brew, I also am amazed at the lack of interest in Discus in Malaysia. What is selling big there now?

[mandisc]

LLK, I find this information very interesting. In this country we've been told that the highest quality Discus go to Japan, and we get grade B here in the States. I'm sure that's true as a general rule, but since I've been in Discus, there have always been a couple of breeders bringing in top quality Asian fish.
1 more thing.
Eventhough Malaysia is an exporter, I will bet you can hardly find discus fans. Only 5-10% of petshop are selling them. Maybe discus market were "killed" by flowerhorn
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hi llk,brewmaster15 n lizstreithorst, just imo n from what i know ,only the highest quality WILD discus go to japan and not the domestic breed one's.
also in malaysia ,there are a healthy numbers of discus fans around but the problem is tat there is not much communication between them .there is no forum like SIMPLYDISCUS in malaysia. here in Singapore most of the discus hobbyist n breeders communicate tru DCS n AQUAREALMS forum.there are also some malaysian discus fan tat log into tis forums.

[LLK]

Hi Liz/ brewmaster,

Different season, Malaysia rare different kinda fish and below is the list (from earlier) as I can remember

- Discus (this is where I started and it is like early 90's if i am not wrong)
- Red prosperity (not sure the right name but similar with flowerhorn but red)
- Flower horn (this was the most excited one. Everywhere you go, as long as you see shop houses, you will see specialist Flower horn shop. At that time, you can see Flowerhorn shops more that 7-eleven. Crazy and this biz had actually contributed to the economy)

Actually, nothing is selling big in Malaysia now.
I would say "alltime" type will be Aruwana or water monkey (microchipped) and Koi. You can find Aruwana in all petshop. We have 1 big Aruwana exporter in Malaysia and it is listed in our stock exchange. I would say Aruwana in Malaysia is kinda cheap (depend on type) and range from USD10 to USD850 for a 3" to 4"
In state, correct me if I am wrong, it is not legal to rare Aruwana unless you have a permit, right?

1 more thing, these days (2-3 year) we do not need to use heater (in am staying in KL) and the water temp is between 28-30c. So I would say this is an advantage. Maybe because of this, you can hardly find heater is petshop but I will also keep 2, just in case.

[LLK]

Hi,

Just to check with you.
Is it true that (regardless of quality), high body and love shape (boomerang) shape Discuse is not wanted/ less porpular in states? What is the price difference.
In Malaysia, highbody is more expensive than rounded (normal) type and I would say double the normal type.
Somehow, I like high body but kinda hard to find coz it it is rare.

[LLK]

Hi Brew,

I have check some prices in the sponser forum.
SHOCKING!!!! I and this is my conclusion:

1. Price is 2-3 times cheaper. When I say cheaper, I am comparing a Dollar to a Ringgit (disregard currency). Another reason is I take GDP per capita into consideration coz our earning is lower.

2. You are right, if I include FOREX, prices are similar.

3. As for quality, Discus quality in our petshop cant compared to those posted in the sponsor forum, not even close. If we wanna find some high quality (such as those posted in forum), we will have to get it from farm/ breeder.

You guys are damn lucky

[brewmaster15]

This is a really interesting discussion and I think we should move it to the main section of the board.

Thanks LLK:)

-al