Before you Buy Discus Fish - 6 Important factors to consider
I think probably the most beautiful fish to take care of may be the Discus. If you've got any interest in discus, I'm sure you understand how expensive these fish can be. Let me share these top 6 hints with you before you make a discus purchase. Now you will possess the knowledge to make the perfect decision when your purchasing a new discus.
Before you Buy Discus Fish - Health
A Discus which is in good health should look healthy. Signs of an unhealthy fish will more than likely consist of them staying on top near the surface, bloated gills and also examine unusual spots or parasites hanging off of the fish. Look for DNS labels on the side of the aquarium. This implies at one point something was sick and the fish store wouldn't sell the fish. These are warning signs of sick fish. Be sure to ask the fish owner about these tanks sometimes they use this term for quarantine reasons as well..
Before you Buy Discus Fish - Second Tip - Alertness and Response
This tip is good for checking the awareness and responsiveness within the fish. Responding to food is a key to the fishes health. A sign of an unhealthy fish is not to take an interest in food. The fish should take the food or at least show interest in it. If your vendor will not feed the fish because “sir I just feed them” Say to him good bye and find a new store
Before you Buy Discus Fish - Third Tip - Buy an Adult
Adolescent or adults are the best kinds of fish to get if you are first discovering how to care for discus. Mature discus are less complicated to care for and will handle water condition alterations better than babies
Before you Buy Discus Fish - Fourth Tip - Dealer Quarantine
What is quarantine. The supplier will hold a discus for a specific amount of time before the individual decides to sell it. This is the quarantine period You should have the dealer tell you how long they have had the fish before they decided to sell it. Usually they take about 2 weeks to be fully quarantined so they’re not spreading disease. Has the fish been de- wormed? Has the discus been subjected to any medicines? They are two basic questions to ask you fish keeper or dealer. In oder to get a decent back round and some history on the fish these inquiries are the ones to ask.
Before you Buy Discus Fish - Fifth Tip - Don't Stop at The Way the Fish Looks
It is wise to take a look at the bottom of the tank because Discus will pass waste on a regular basis. You are browsing for the waste to be a black in color. Whenever you observe a white looking feces ask the dealer about this since this is often an indication of intestinal worms When you happen to notice several indications of an unhealthy discus and the seller can't clarify them try to find a new place to get your fish.
Sixth Tip - Water Chemistry
The chemistry of the tank is an additional factor to look for when you are going to buy discus fish. Before you purchase your new discus ask the breeder or fish owner what their present water conditions are. Be sure to maintain a suitable tolerance between your tank and the breeders tank. If you're thinking that the shop vendor has odd water conditions walk away because apparently they don’t know what they may be doing. Acclimating discus could be tricky because of varying water conditions. Ask you seller how they go about acclimating them to insure a stress free transmission.
These points will help you the next time you choose to purchase discus fish therefore have them at heart the next time your in a fish store. Now you will have the information to purchase healthy discus fish so you don't end up by mistake getting a fish which seems to be good however dies in few weeks
Author Resource:
Steve ownes an aquarium shop in upper Michigan. He specializes in Discus and African Cichlid fish. To find out more information and advanced Dicus fish secrets go to Discus fish Secrets blog. More dicus articles can be found at Buy Discus Fish Tips