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	Breeder or store bought
freakof87 Hobbyist Posts: 52 Kudos: 34 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Aug-2003	Which is the genrally the better choice Buying from a inderpendent breeder or a lfs. What should i look for when selecting Discus? Last edited by freakof87 at 09-Jun-2005 05:59
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
Bob Wesolowski Mega Fish Posts: 1379 Kudos: 1462 Registered: 14-Oct-2004	I highly recommend purchasing discus from a breeder. There are any number of advantages: 1. The fish are generally better kept. The breeder has a substantial investment in maintaining optimal conditions for discus. In a LFS, discus will be maintained in the same conditions as other fish in the LFS. This is not necessarily poor maintenance by the LFS, however discus need higher temperatures and high water quality. 2. The fish will be well fed. If you are buying young fish, anything under 3 inches from nose to the base of the tail, the fish need to feed three to five times per day. Their diet should be flake, bits, frozen and live food. At the LFS, they may be fed once or twice a day. 3. Discus can be very picky in their eating habits and in their water preferences. By purchasing from a breeder, you will know what the fish have been fed and the water conditions that they have been reared in. It's a good idea to attempt to duplicate the conditions in your aquarium. 4. Fish shock wi9th each transfer. Purchasing from the breeder will keep transfers to a minimum. 5. You may have the oppurtunity to observe the parents. If you are buying small fish, they should be somewhat non-descript. Discus do not begin to "color up" until they reach 3 inches. Strong colors in smaller fish are a sign of steroid use by the breeder, importer or LFS. Each spawn will contain great fish and poor fish. When you are choosing fish, watch for: 1. Attentiveness, 2. Round bodies, 3. Size (bigger is better), 4. No blemishes or body imperfections. The fish should not be overly afraid of you when you approach the tank. If you move your hand slowly to the top of the tank, the fish should follow the "food" hand. Small fish will not be round but some will have better shapes than other fish. The fish you want to buy should not have observable lesions, scrape marks, abscesses, tumors, growths or prosthetic devices. Be sure to ask the breeder if they have been treated for worms, flukes or other parasites. Good luck! __________ "To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research." researched from Steven Wright
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18


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