Wanna go for coffee?

[Tom McCartney]

Hi,

I would be grateful for some advice from a seasoned discus vet.

I am going to start up a discus tank. I haven't bought anything yet. I've had fresh and saltwater tanks in the past. I've recently read six books on discus keeping, fresh water aquariums and aquascaping, and done a fair bit of reading on this awesome site.

As you might imagine, I have some questions about best practices here in Calgary. I'm wondering if I can buy someone a coffee and "talk discus." I live in the SW of Calgary, but would be happy to meet you anywhere in town (maybe at your favorite aquarium shop?).

Regards and thanks,

Tom

[fljones3]

Tom, welcome. Hopefully, someone is near you. However, this site is "the" place to get your questions answered. Not only that, but you may end up supporting the site, as I did.

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Tom, this is Pat. Glad we got your login info sorted. Welcome to the forum. Also consider having a virtual coffee right here on the forum
Pat

[LizStreithorst]

That's a good idea, Pat.

[Tom McCartney]

Hmm. A rooster that calls herself Mama Bear? Nice to e-meet you.

Thanks Pat and Liz. I'll wait a bit to see if someone local chimes in. If not, it would be great to have a virtual coffee.
Tom

[Serin]

I’m not exactly local, but at least the same country - Nanaimo BC, Canada.
I’m a discus beginner like you, and would love to join in for a coffee and to glean any and all possible knowledge. Especially regarding medications and treatments, since Canada has imposed a comprehensive ban on most popular (and effective) fish medications.
I’m putting together a list of alternative compounds that we have available to us, and at some point will make a post to ask for advice on matching meds to diseases and their dosages.

[Tom McCartney]

Thanks Serin. I don't know anything about bans on meds in Canada. The books I've read seem to agree on having at least the following meds around, though some recommend having many more.

• • Metronidazole
  • Stress Coat from API
  • Oxytetracycline
  • Epsom salts
  • Wormer (Cloverleaf Absolute Wormer Plus)

I'll let you know if I opt for a coffee with our friend in Florida. I've been able to answer most of my questions from researching online. What I really need is some local knowledge about whether they treat the water here, or just go with what's in the tap.

Good luck with your discus tank. I used to have a girlfriend in Nanaimo when I lived in Vancouver. I thought Nanaimo was real nice.

[Serin]

The ban came in Dec., 2018. Metronidazole and all antibiotics like Oxytetracycline and are only available to us with a veterinary prescription. We cannot buy praziquantal, formalin or malachite green based products, flubendazole or levamisole over the counter, either.
Some have reported being able to order from e-bay or other US or overseas companies, but you risk getting confiscated at the border.
It’s been a huge problem for ornamental fish hobbyists for the last few years.

[Iminit]

Welcome Tom. Coffee with someone is a nice option. But it’s limited to just that persons opinions. Here you will get a lot more info without leaving your home. You say you’ve had freshwater tanks. How did you do with them? Do you still have them? How big were they? This site is an easy place to come and talk about what you’d like to do. You’ll get answers.

[Tom McCartney]

Thank you.

[PoorRichard]

Just registered as PoorRichard. I have a long history touching every aspect of the aquarium industry. Began at age 8 with a 3 gal glass bowl went twenty years in freshwater. In 1966 I set-up my first saltwater tank and kind of went crazy with that for the next 60 years. Culminating in Florida with a coral aquaculture facility and after twelve years battling the summer heat, five hurricanes, outrageous car and homeowners insurance and property taxes, we sold the business and moved back to our home state of Wisconsin. Been here now eight years without an aquarium. Now age 87, a cancer survivor, thanks to God, I've decided I need an aquarium or two in my life. With all that experience to lean on, I'm contemplating a breeding pair of Discus. OK, fire away at pros and cons of that idea.

[brewmaster15]

Just registered as PoorRichard. I have a long history touching every aspect of the aquarium industry. Began at age 8 with a 3 gal glass bowl went twenty years in freshwater. In 1966 I set-up my first saltwater tank and kind of went crazy with that for the next 60 years. Culminating in Florida with a coral aquaculture facility and after twelve years battling the summer heat, five hurricanes, outrageous car and homeowners insurance and property taxes, we sold the business and moved back to our home state of Wisconsin. Been here now eight years without an aquarium. Now age 87, a cancer survivor, thanks to God, I've decided I need an aquarium or two in my life. With all that experience to lean on, I'm contemplating a breeding pair of Discus. OK, fire away at pros and cons of that idea.

Welcome Richard! Glad to hear you beat cancer! It does sound like you have been with water creatures a bit.

Pros and Cons of breeding discus.. The pros are its a challenging task but incredibly fullfilling when you see a healthy spawn being raised by their parents. Its a feather in most fish keepers cap as well. Its also an opportunity to interact with other Discus fanatics. Another Pro would be this forum contains all you need to know to make it happen.

Cons? time consuming,frustrating,expensive. Its a comitment of time and energy. It can be difficult to raise healthy fry to a saleable size and it can be hard to find homesor buyers. It requires multiple tanks and lots of food and water. You may need to use Ro water. Its aldo a gateway drug to ATS.. Acquire Tank Syndrome.

al