Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

[brewmaster15]

Given the Intense interest in Wild discus...I propose we start a discussion here about wild Discus and the traits that make them desirable apart from Domestics and compared to each other.... Some of this is subjective........ But I think if we do this is an intelligent general way alot can be learned by those new to the wild side of things or leaning there.

I think a good way to do this is for hobbyists here to post their fish, list the prices paid, and point out what they feel is the strong points and weak points of their fish....WE can do this for each major type of wild and build a database.. No need to discuss where the fish came from...do that by Pm if you want.,

I encourage others to comment on the fish if they can as to strengths and weaknesses... understand this will happen if you post to this thread.

Thanks...

This thread Heckels only....

-al

[Melissa]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

Bought as "Blue Face Heckels" $75.00 each
Caught somewhere in Brazil.
I really don't know how to judge strong/weak points of wild discus! Any and all input is welcome and appreciated

Disclaimer here.... Please pardon the following pictures for being out of focus/blurry/too sharp or whatever else is wrong with them! LOL! This was the first time i've ever used a camera like this one, its actually my sisters and she's a professional photographer. If only i had her crazy skills! Btw, all of eor bars are out because they always think im going to feed them when i approach the tank, theyre just excitable little piggies! Anyway... enjoy!

]

[Discus Origins]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

Here were my Nhamunda Heckels, which were imported in from Canada thru Oliver Lucanus last year. I searched for an importer for years that shipped this exact variety and finally were able to get them in, they may have been the first ones in the US.

Now that Hans has established with Hudson we are now able to get many different strains that were only in books or internet before.

The Nhamunda variety of Heckels is the only one to have a blue body with brown striations, all other varieties are brown bodied with blue stripes. The more blue on the body, the more rare and prized. The pictures don't really do them justice as this was a newly setup tank that they were in for a couple weeks. I should have taken more pictures once they settled down and turned into bright sheens of blue but I also did not know one day I would come home to a tank full of dead fish from acid drop.

They were $250/ea for the striated ones, $400/ea for the blue moons or solid forehead/body. The blue on the fish brightened up much more when the pH went below 6 and water hardness below 60ppm. They are probably one of the more aggressive Heckels, once established not picky on food as mine take a variet of frozen recipe, frozen blood worms/mysis shrim and live black worms. I do not ever feed dry food to my discus, they are far too valuable to feed them what guppies eat

The most important thing with these is to verify that the fish were caught in the northern part of the Nhamunda river, the further north the more blue the fish. For some reason, most likely diet they develop the solid blue body. I will be purchasing some more Blue Moon Nhamundas both from John and Hans...I want to see if there is a big difference between suppliers of Santarem and H&K. Pictures hopefully to come soon!


Mark

[Discus Origins]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

These are my Jatapu Heckels, a higher quality blue face/blue head variety. They were imported from Glaser in Germany for $125/ea at a Med size (3-4"). As you can see they were nicely colored in the head even at that size.

They are not as aggressive as the Nhamundas and having been nicely conditioned in Germany they came in taking pellets and flakes which I quickly changed to frozen food. But you can see where their bodies are dark brown with the blue stripes, opposite of the Nhamundas.

Mark

[wgtaylor]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

I bought this Blue Heckel wild, $40

You never know when you get some of these heckels that may have been transported in and around Manaus if they won't produce hybrids that will be unique. This is what it looked like.



It turned out much different than I expected. I like the ring of blue finnage.



I wake up in the morning with wild discus.

[Second Hand Pat]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

Bill, Mark and Melissa, thanks for sharing pictures of your prized fish. Maybe one day when I get my feet under me nice and firm with wilds I might try heckel too.

Bill, love the coffee cup

[Melissa]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

Wgtaylor, amazing transformation!!! That blue halo is beautiful!

[round flat fish]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

I sure do like looking at other peoples wilds! I am bummed i missed out on the blue face heckels when John had them last. The timing was just bad for me. I really like the Jatapu Heckels.

[Dave B]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

...but I also did not know one day I would come home to a tank full of dead fish from acid drop.

What happened? That sucks...

Thanks for the informative post.

[William Palumbo]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

Great Heckels everyone! I really miss mine. I have always wanted those solid blue headed Heckels, ever since I saw a pic of them in a TFH book....Your Heckel really blossomed Bill...love that mug!...Bill

[Discus Origins]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

What happened? That sucks...

Thanks for the informative post.

Was using muriatic acid to keep the pH below 5.0. One day either city municipal water changed or I added too much to the tank and had a drastic drop in PH that basically wiped out my entire collection of Nhamunda Heckels. 2 made it back and that's what I have at this point. Expensive lesson learned! Mark

[wgtaylor]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

Expensive lesson learned! Mark

That was a tough break Mark, thanks for sharing lessons learned. You have nice remaining heckels and hope more to come.
Bill

Wgtaylor, amazing transformation!!! That blue halo is beautiful!

Thanks Melissa and yours are looking great. Talk your sis out of that camera!

Bill, Mark and Melissa, thanks for sharing pictures of your prized fish. Maybe one day when I get my feet under me nice and firm with wilds I might try heckel too.

Bill, love the coffee cup

We have limits and can't keep every wild, darn. Thanks Pat.

Great Heckels everyone! I really miss mine. I have always wanted those solid blue headed Heckels, ever since I saw a pic of them in a TFH book....Your Heckel really blossomed Bill...love that mug!...Bill

Thanks Bill, just toasted your comment with that cup of coffee.

[hedut]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

very beautiful heckels everyone . I'm getting some heckels soon . questions guys : Is it ok to mix deference type heckels ? heard that mix batch could get fighting all the time?

Thanks

[Apistomaster]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

very beautiful heckels everyone . I'm getting some heckels soon . questions guys : Is it ok to mix deference type heckels ? heard that mix batch could get fighting all the time?

Thanks

The Heckel color variants will not act any differently than one type or another and as to mixing them that is purely a matter of personal taste or goal you have in mind. Heckels are more sociable than Greens and haraldi ime.

[sfdiscus]

Re: Wild Discus Tech Notes 1... Heckels...The basics and More....

Hi - I will be getting a group on wild heckels in a few weeks. Can this forum suggest the water parameters I need to prepare meanwhile or refer me to a thread that has discussed this question for wild heckels?

Also - does this forum have any suggestions on how to train wilds to eat flakes/pellets?

thx