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Usual ramblings
I haven't read all the replies to this thread, so I don't know if someone may have said this already. (Hey I just woke up awhile ago, reading tons of replies just isn't my thing right now...forgive me)
I'm at my friend's right now, who has a gorgeous discus tank with four different strains of them, and he's had the blues before. There is one big problem with the blues though, which may be why they are so cheap where you are if the salesperson is aware of it.
Blue discus seem to be particularly susceptible to Hexamita infections. If they are infected, they will appear too dark in colour, have sunken eyes, or have stringy feces. Even those that appear normal, need to be quarantined and treated prior to introduction into your tank. (Well you should usually quarantine...but hey..)
Though often that still won't work....
My friend had two of these before, and both died because of this before he had researched and found out about this illness. The salesperson had not even warned him prior to purchase. And when you are buying a fish that darned expensive, I think you should be warned ...but hey, that's my beef.
Shane is right, Discus are definitely not meant as a 'beginner fish' to keep. If you've had some tank experience before, then go ahead, as long as you meet their requirements.
IF you decide to go ahead anyway, go with the pigeon blood. They are the most commonly kept and most likely the easiest *CB*. If you really want to go with the wild caught fancy specimens, the green heckles are pretty friendly, and not bad to acclimate etc....well...for discus.
If you get any wild caught specimens, you have to put them in a quarantine tank with no other fish. Put in the parasite medications, crank up the heat (reasonably) then after a week gradually bring down the temperatures to 82...if everything seems good. Then bring it to your tank.
Sinking dry pellets are what they like, since they like to peck off the ground. Beef heart should be fed only once a week, 30 minutes before a water change....and water changes MUST be done once a week as well. Why only once a week with beef heart and before the water change? Because it ups the chances of parasites...
Don't worry if they swim slightly on an angle, it's pretty common for them to do this once in awhile.
I still don't recommend them as a first fish...I've been keeping fish for ages, and I still leave them to Ross *lol* His and I just help each other out with fish. Right now we are doing a saltwater tank project together (Nano reef style *LOL*)
He's doing his water changes and water testing right now on all his tanks. Woohoo, apparently his water is bang on.....isn't he happy.
Now I better hush up and go now. I hope I didn't say anything to contradict anyone.
But I do agree with Shane, fish live longer then most people think. I have people that come up to me all the time thinking that 6 months is a good life span for a goldfish...for crying out loud.
Or even a month for their tetras seems incredible to them.
It doesn't end with fish either, even with birds...some people think two years for a budgie is normal.
Animals can live in bearable conditions for some time, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will live to full lifespan.
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