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I found them online. Can anyone give me a link where you can get them for cheaper? Are they that cheap and grow to 8"? I don't want anything smaller than 6"- max growth. Thanks for the prices, I'm not going to spend $46 each unless I have to.

go to this site it all the information on all cichlids and it has heaps tank pics www.cichlid-forum.com
u will be pleased

Last edited by danny at 01-Nov-2005 18:31

"side note:

"DOWN SIDE IS NO PLANTS""

Hehe that can be a selling point for those of us that are burnt out on begging our "beginer, low light, will grow in a toilet bowl (according to the LFS)" plants to stay alive. I have one tank that has been able to keep plants alive for any stretch of time and the whole "no plants" thing was a big factor in my choice to turn my 29 gallon livebearer tank into a Tang Cich community tank (in 3 months when I move into my house) Same thing with my 55-75 gallon (have not cleared the 75 gal with the wife yet )that is becoming a JD tank.

Nickman,

Send me an e-mail and I can refer you to a number of discus breeders. Generally, breeders are less expensive than retail stores. The problem is that the breeder/hobbyist may not have the color or size fish that you would like.

If you buy juvenile discus and want them to grow to 8 inch fish. You will need to feed them very well with high quality food and great water conditions.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Have you thought about ordering online. I know of one place that has small one for 8$ and shipping is about 48$.

That would cost him more than getting them for $46 each

I'd say Discus if you are already keeping Africans...though if not Discus go for Severums...Severums get about 8 inches long and are wonderful fish...you could probably keep 4 as they don't seem to be too agressive towards there own species...at least IME

Au contraire. IMO, discus are by far the most overrated fish ever. Speaking as one who's had his fair share of discus, they are nothing more than colored plates; with personalities to boot. Don't get me wrong-they are quite beautiful. Drop dead gorgeous, which is what attracted me to them in the first place. It comes down to which fish you prefer; both are quite interesting, albeit in different regards. Having never kept Africans, especially tangs, I'd be more partial to them.

IM JEALOUS IF I COULD AFFORD A NEW TANK AND SOME FISH ID GO FOR DISCUS!

GOOD LUCK WITH IT ALL

I'm definently going with the Discus. I've found some Discus for a nice price. I'm planning on 8 (juveniles at the moment) 8" Discus and some Cardinal tetras or something else small. I'm also going to have java moss and dwarf hairgrass, maybe some Anubias nana.

that is true, ive also had sucess with those warietys, but find because the fish tend to dig i spend most of the time replanting them, it was ok till my fish got to about 3in, then they started making a mess. most other stuff they just ate!

I vote for african cichlids,

side note:

DOWN SIDE IS NO PLANTS

Plants are not the normal aquascaping with malawi and tang cichlids, but I have had luck with plants such as jave fern and onion plants with my malawi's.

I THINK THEY ARE BOTH WONDERFUL OPTIONS,

THE AFRICANS ARE VERY COLOURFUL ACTIVE AND INTELIGENT. IF STOCKED CORRECTLY YOU WILL HAVE NO DEATHS DUE TO FIGHTING (I HAVENT LOST A FISH IN 8-MONTHS) AND THERE SO EASY TO BREED. JUST ADD WATER. THE DOWN SIDE IS NO PLANTS.

DISCUS ARE WONDERFUL GRACEFUL FISH AND A BIT MORE CHALLENGING. ALSO YOU CAN KEEP EM WITH PLANTS AND SHOULD U BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THEM TO BREED THE FRY AE WORTH HEAPS.

TO ALL THOSE WHO WOULD CLAIM ANY FISH IS BORING OR OVERRATED I WOULD SAY THIS, KEEP YOUR OPNIONS NICE OR TO YOURSELF. IM NOT A HUGE FAN OF TETRAS, BUT I WOULD NOT GO AROUND RUBBISHING THOSE WHO KEEP THEM, OR THE FISH THEM SELFS. FISH KEEPING IS PERSONAL AS IS YOU TASTE IN THOSE FISH. AFRICANS ARE NOT AT ALL OVERATED OR VIOLENT. IF YOU ARE TOO IRRESPONSIBLE TO KEEP FISH IN CONDITIONS THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND HAPPY THEN DONT KEEP EM!

DONT LISTEN TO ANYONE WHO CALLS THEM BORING THERE NOT, INTERESTING, INQUIZITIVE AND HIGHLY INTELIGENT,

IN THE END MAKE YOUR CHOICE baseD ON WHAT YOU LIKE.

Most people who are saying that African cichlids are overrated have probably never experienced the joy of keeping Tangayikan cichlids.

Anyways good luck with the tank nickman. I'm sure it'll look very nice.

For 6 inch size your price is good, the $25. ones I'm referring to are still juvenile size.

The Amazon Nut...

I'm planning an 150 gallon tank. I am trying to decide whether to have a few discus or a tank full of african cichlid (6" and below). I can understand that discus need very good water conditions and food. What I'm concerned about, is which would cost more? The africans would cost around $400. I was planning on about 4-6 discus, nothing fancy, but about 6"-8" fish, how much would this cost? Also, would it be cheaper to maintain the discus or africans?

I can get domestic bred discus juvies, show quality for $25. ea. $45. seems very high. Even in a store I know in Toronto they're about $30. a pop.

The ones you mention. Wild caught or domestic ?

The Amazon Nut...

That seems expensive. Even my lfs has them for half of that. They may not be quite that size but not far off. Have you thought about ordering online. I know of one place that has small one for 8$ and shipping is about 48$.

I am going with the discus. I found some that I like that are about 3" and will grow to 8" for about $46 each. I'm gong to get 6 of them and add in some other fish, such as cardinal tetras and something else. I have been researching Discus for about a week and found them more interesting. I keep Africans and they are fun, but I want to try something new. Thanks for the posts everyone, they were all very helpful!

THANKS AGAIN!
-Nick

Last edited by nickman713 at 22-Oct-2005 23:03

I agree with many points here, and true we will all have some diff points of view depending on our tastes in fish.

I know a few or so home breeders and africans sell fast and for good price. Personally I'm not big on them.. I prefer SA cichlids. But the african breeders making more then the SA, CA, and apisto breeders even.

There is one SA rival, the Discus.

If going discus, you can save yourself alot of hassle and get domestic bred discus. Get a juvenile group of 5 for about $25. each then raise them, you will get at least one pair. Domestic bred are better adjusted to your water conditions, more forgiving of water quality and will more readily feed on prepared foods. If getting wilds, treat them for parasites.

Get whatever one you think you will ENJOY best !






The Amazon Nut...

Personally I agree,
African Cichlids are highly overrated.
Discus are very exaggerated in their "Sensitivity".
I keep mine for 1, in a community tank (some say this should never be done),
with fast fish that apparently would bother the discus( like plecos and rainbowfish),
and I dont do massive amounts of water changes.
I do a 35% water change every 2 weeks.
I do not feed them live food, I supplement their diet of staple foods like flake, pellets, and tubifex with the occassional meal of frozen bloodworms , maybe once or twice a week.
They breed for me like clockwork every 3rd week.
Wonderful, Hardy Fish, that are overrated in their sensitivity, and keeping conditions.
For your tank, You could easily do a group of 8 Discus,
add some rummynose tetra or similar as dither fish,
and then fill in with some amazonian catfish like corys for the bottom, and maybe a pleco or two for algae/cleanup etc.
I would Highly Recommend Discus to anyone who wants a tiny bit more challenge and a whole lot more reward. They are gorgeous fish that bond very quickly to their keepers, and will become very tame and hand feed. (Mine do).
Very beautiful fish.
The only things to remember with Discus- keep the water warm (80F or above- i keep mine at 82), and keep the water soft. A PH of 6.4-7.0 would be perfect. I keep mine in PH 6.6 with a hardness of >120ppm gh. I have to add 2 lbs of peat to my canister filters to keep the ph this low as I am on super hard well water.
Aside from that, I really dont see Discus needing any other special treatment. Mine sure dont get any and boy are they flourishing!
Good Luck!
Also, I forgot you asked about price. Well I paid 89.95 each for my Discus, Canadian (about 76$ american)
and they were about 5-6 inch size. You can often get them cheaper from breeders as smaller fish.
8- 6 inch discus here, would run you about 720 dollars,
but if you get them from Breeders, you could probably bring it down to as little as 300 dollars.
Discus grow fast. Little ones will be big ones in no time at all, so dont be afraid to purchase smaller 3-4 inch ones to save some money.
Remember, fancier Discus, like my Hi Fin Turqouise, will run you more than less fancy ones like Pigeonbloods.
Just depends on what you want.


Last edited by So_Very_Sneaky at 22-Oct-2005 19:32

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