Are my fish stunted?...

[SoloWizard]

For a complete discus noob like myself. Is it hard to keep discus? I heard they need brackish water? And if they are stunted will they not breed?

 

[Otolith]

Yeah, I don't understand why they would choose that as their display pic, really outs them as not knowing much at all about the species.
Most of the LFS around me all have stunted babies and or all darkened from stress. Sad.

 

[hillbilly]

For a complete discus noob like myself. Is it hard to keep discus? I heard they need brackish water? And if they are stunted will they not breed?

Read the other stickies here on this forum for more information on discus care.

 

[fishworld]

Yes , u r right ! Their big or shrunken eyes , dull colour and closed fins show that they are stunted . But many people ignore it & show their discus " The way of HELL "

 

[cockroach]

What are the best ways to stop stunting.

I mean we know so far varied diet and water changes go without saying. I have heard things about keeping growing discus in smaller tanks to minimize swimming around searching for food thus wasting less energy and using it for growing. Any other tricks of the trade you have learned or picked up along the way?

Thanks for great, informative examples hillbilly

 

[hillbilly]

What are the best ways to stop stunting.

I mean we know so far varied diet and water changes go without saying. I have heard things about keeping growing discus in smaller tanks to minimize swimming around searching for food thus wasting less energy and using it for growing. Any other tricks of the trade you have learned or picked up along the way?

Thanks for great, informative examples hillbilly

The best way to prevent stunting is good food, and water changes, water changes, water changes, water changes. Did I mention water changes? Nothing is more vital to growing discus than clean water at all times.

 

[cockroach]

1. So would starting with 8 dollar sized discus in a well filtered 75gal be a good idea?
2. And on a tank that size, what water change schedule would you recommend?
3. What would you recommend for food? Would frozen bloodworms, Tetra Discus Bits, seaweed wafers, small vegetable based pellets, TetraCichlid Minigranules and frozen brine shrimp be good food?

 

[hillbilly]

1. So would starting with 8 dollar sized discus in a well filtered 75gal be a good idea?
2. And on a tank that size, what water change schedule would you recommend?
3. What would you recommend for food? Would frozen bloodworms, Tetra Discus Bits, seaweed wafers, small vegetable based pellets, TetraCichlid Minigranules and frozen brine shrimp be good food?

Sure, you could do that. Keep the tank bare bottomed with driftwood for cover. Putting little ones in a tank with sand, or a planted tank is not a good practice. You could even do a dozen, removing the smallest ones as they grow to. In any group, one or more will likely not grow as well as the rest. Getting extra and removing the smaller ones as they grow, will give you a group of fish all the same size. I would vac extra food and waste daily, and change 50% of the water every other day. This is what I have done for years, and have had good results with it. As far as food goes, a good homemade mix gives great results. A good mix can give all the nutrition needed all by itself. You can find some good recipes on the SimplyDiscus forum. Just do a search. You can supplement the mix with frozen bloodworms, or live blackworms (my favorite), and various dry foods. My favorite dry food is Hikari Discus Bio Gold.

 

[Japonicus]

That is a very stunted fish for sure. They should be ashamed to sell such fish. I guess some folks have no pride.

maybe just inexperience

 

[Snowflake311]

OK is this Discus Stunted. I got her a few months ago she is about 4" with Tail. 3" with out tail. I have seen her lay eggs too. So she is happy and healthy but is she stunted?