Hi Edvet,
I agree Stendker has a great reputation, I would love to visit them next time I am in Germany...
Cheers,
Steve.
Well folks what a busy few days I've had over the weekend. Water changes, trying to feed them all, checking all the water parameters, I'd forgotten that it can almost be a full time job!
As things have turned out, the discus I got from Steve Punchard are considerably bigger than the fish I got from Plymouth Discus, more like three and a half inches to four inches than 2.5 inches. It hasn't stopped them all shoaling together though which is a great sight when it happens.
Feeding them is my main concern at the moment and getting them used to a planted environment with other fish in that they have never seen before. Its early days but getting them to recognise the flake and granules as food is a bit frustrating. Especially when the Rummy Nose Tetras and the diamond Tetras are eating t like crazy. The Blue Diamonds are a brilliant colour although slightly small and I may struggle with them more than the others, the Blue Snakeskins are gorgeous.
I don't want to offer them frozen bloodworm for all the obvious reasons and I am set against beef heart for the time being. I did try them on live Brine Shrimp which they all went after, but a lot were eaten by the other fish in the tank before the discus really knew they were there. I might try feeding the other fish first on other food until they are full, then pop the live food in. I will be looking on the internet to see what alternative live foods are available, white worm, etc. but I don't want them to become solely reliant on this as a food source.
I am probably going to invest in a HMA Filter as well, I threw my old RO unit out a year or two ago after it had not been used for a long time.
I also have a feeling that I am going to have to provide a bit more cover or shelter in the form of roots or branches so that they don't get too spooked when all the lights come on.
Any suggestions or comments welcome, or anything to maintain or improve the welfare of the fish much appreciated.
As soon as I get some decent pictures of them shoaling together I will post them up.
Cheers,
Steve.