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Things to look for when purchasing discus
If you’re thinking of buying your first discus you should not be tempted by extraordinary coloured fishes with catchy names that are sold at very low prices, good quality discus are not cheap but can be reasonably priced, we have a selection criteria which we use when purchasing from breeders, supplier or wholesalers, we hope that the guide lines we apply will also help you choose good quality discus.
General health: discus should be alert and active and free from physical damage.
Colour and pattern: must be clear and distinctive, be weary of discus with very intensive colours, these fish are usually colour enhanced and this colour will fade in a short time.
Body shape: nicely rounded body, discus are graded by body shape, elongated bodies are not an indication of health but could indicate prolonged illness or poor water conditions while young.
Fins: clear, free from damage and irregularities.
Eyes: round and clear without defects, unusually large eyes indicate stunted growth; defective eye lenses or uneven eye sizes usually indicate a genetically weak strain.
The forehead: should be well formed curving gradually from the mouth to the first ray of the dorsal fin, avoid discus with thin foreheads this could be due to malnutrition or intestinal parasites.
The gills: gill plates should be well formed, short or missing gill plates indicate a genetically weak strain, gills are also subject to diseases and are sensitive to pollutants and toxins fish that are scraping themselves against tank decorations, swim erratically or have high respiratory rate normally 60 to 90 gill beats per minute could be suffering from parasitic, bacterial or fungal infection.
The throat: a straight or inward curve from the mouth to the base of the pelvic fin indicates a poor quality discus.
Other thing you should do: ask the seller on what the water conditions are that they keep their discus in and what foods they have been feeding their fish.
Are their tanks clean with good filtration and aeration?
Is there any uneaten food in the tank, uneaten food indicates a poor appetite and leads to poor water conditions?
These are probably the most important points to look for when buying discus and we hope this will assist you when you make your purchase.
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