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Vampire999
Man Of ManyAquariums
Registered: 04/30/00
Posts: 2,431
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Last seen: 11 years, 11 months
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Tropical Fish
#4105310 - 04/27/05 11:04 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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This is hobby I have gotten hopelessy addicted to again. I am now keeping discus. Some of the most amazing freshwater fish I have ever seen. These pictures I have do no justice. There is also a pic in there of the 50 gallon I just setup and am letting cycle. Want to get a whole bunch more just out of room for now.
Any of you into fish?
http://shroomery.org/~vampire/fish/
more pics(not mine):
http://macsdiscus.com/images.html
-------------------- ./configure --without-sanity --without-logic --without-regret 01100110011101010110001101101011011110010110111101110101 jaded = safe != happy Were not familly, we are the shroomery, and to some thats thicker than blood.
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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East
Registered: 05/21/04
Posts: 7,048
Loc: Asia
Last seen: 6 years, 2 months
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nice stuff! i used to love fish, then my passion turned that of land dwelling cold blooders.
check out all things aquatic. not sure how that site is doing (the sister site, ssnakees, is very nice). used to be quite good when it was starting up, good people.
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
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Todcasil
rogue DMT elf
Registered: 08/08/99
Posts: 16,381
Loc: Crawling on the floor...
Last seen: 9 years, 6 months
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Quote:
Vampire999 said: Any of you into fist?
i thought youd never ask!!
-------------------- Men look at themselves and they see flawed humans, we look at women and we see perfect GODDESSES Women look at themselves and they seem utterly human, when looking at men they see proud GODS. ~Casil
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0xYg3n
topdawg
Registered: 04/29/04
Posts: 18,881
Last seen: 15 years, 9 days
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Re: Tropical Fish [Re: Todcasil]
#4105385 - 04/27/05 11:25 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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oh no0o0o0o0os, it's todcasil! what's up u evil planar elf u!
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Todcasil
rogue DMT elf
Registered: 08/08/99
Posts: 16,381
Loc: Crawling on the floor...
Last seen: 9 years, 6 months
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Re: Tropical Fish [Re: 0xYg3n]
#4105392 - 04/27/05 11:27 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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whast up DANOO!!
just chilin tonight.
i have a hit of acid that burning a hole in my pocket....
but i have to find a job tomorrow so i cant take it!!!
i wanted to go to a buddies house and do some elfspice, but thats not panning out...
how you?
-------------------- Men look at themselves and they see flawed humans, we look at women and we see perfect GODDESSES Women look at themselves and they seem utterly human, when looking at men they see proud GODS. ~Casil
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KingOftheThing
the cool fool
Registered: 11/17/02
Posts: 27,397
Loc: USA
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i used to be big into freshwater fish...i had a couple parrot fish, a florida gar, some oscars ....all gone now, it was a fun hobby though
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Vampire999
Man Of ManyAquariums
Registered: 04/30/00
Posts: 2,431
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Last seen: 11 years, 11 months
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Re: Tropical Fish [Re: Todcasil]
#4105613 - 04/28/05 12:26 AM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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oh man.. see.. what I'm trying to figure out is if it really said that when I wrote it. Or if a crafty staff member is having fun at vamps expense.
Either way... so that's a yes then? *snaps on the gloves*
-------------------- ./configure --without-sanity --without-logic --without-regret 01100110011101010110001101101011011110010110111101110101 jaded = safe != happy Were not familly, we are the shroomery, and to some thats thicker than blood.
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oDin
Registered: 08/12/99
Posts: 5,789
Last seen: 10 years, 9 months
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cant wait to feed them...cheeseburger ok?
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Vampire999
Man Of ManyAquariums
Registered: 04/30/00
Posts: 2,431
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Last seen: 11 years, 11 months
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Re: Tropical Fish [Re: oDin]
#4105670 - 04/28/05 12:49 AM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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Actually they do eat meats. They will eat bloodworm, brine shrimp, beef heart, turkey..
I would think hamburger would be a bit fatty though :P
-------------------- ./configure --without-sanity --without-logic --without-regret 01100110011101010110001101101011011110010110111101110101 jaded = safe != happy Were not familly, we are the shroomery, and to some thats thicker than blood.
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blacksabbathrulz
Registered: 05/22/02
Posts: 2,511
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My dad has a 500 gallon fish tank, with this filtration system that runs into the basement. It's pretty cool. He's got some fish called gobies sp? and coral, and an octopus, and clams, and crabs, and hermit crabs, and snails, and a mollusk, and its the coolest thing to look at whilst stoned. I'll have to take some pictures next time I'm home. If I had a tank and the money, I could totally get addicted to it.
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PawPaw
Picktish TexasStyle....
Registered: 12/20/04
Posts: 8,243
Loc: was born down in the sout...
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Yep hopelessley addicted also...I panhandle change sometimes so i can cop some Hikari flakes. This is my next species im going to breed, Sunshine Bauneuski sp? Its another Aulonacara species I screwed up and killed off a bunch when my Ehiem went down I still take care of a few tanks for other people when they start jonesing
-------------------- Come to Paw Paws place there will be no sleeping tonight Eric just wants to catch reds .. Don?t look back, don?t look back He?s right on your trail Don?t look back, don?t look back He?s just a step away from hell WDYWFM?
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Phred
Fred's son
Registered: 10/18/00
Posts: 12,949
Loc: Dominican Republic
Last seen: 9 years, 2 months
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I was a discus breeder for a few years back in the mid-Eighties.
Absolutely fascinating fish, but not for the faint-hearted. Water quality is key with discus, as is temperature. Even with a top-rate filtration system you'll still need to do regular water changes. I did two a week (around 25% of the water changed each time) and it seemed to be sufficient.
Temperature is tricky, too. Too cold and your fish will hate life. Too warm and you get a problem with parasites -- especially with a sub par filtration system -- because of their sloppy eating habits and the amount of live food they require to be in top breeding condition. Get a couple of good tank cleaners (I used two relatively small plecostamus and changed them whenever they got too big) and vacuum out your gravel regularly.
Heh. I still remember making their frozen beefheart food. What a procedure!
They are without a doubt a truly spectacular fish, though, and worth the effort for a true afficianado. If you can get them to breed it is a bonus. Watching the fry feed is fascinating, especially when the parents change places. Too cool. Selling the young offsets the costs involved, as well. Discus still go for a pretty penny even these days.
Phred
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Kapellimestari
mushroom dude
Registered: 04/27/05
Posts: 6
Loc: Finland
Last seen: 17 years, 9 months
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Re: Tropical Fish [Re: Phred]
#4105998 - 04/28/05 06:55 AM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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Why freshwater aquariums? :P Seawater aquariums are far more interesting and prettier than freshwater aq:s that everyone has.
Be different, choose seawater
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Adden
Registered: 06/04/03
Posts: 39,201
Loc:
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Discus pwn saltwater any day
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Adden
Registered: 06/04/03
Posts: 39,201
Loc:
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PMs, vamp. Nice pics btw.
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Gr8fulJ420
strange but nota stranger
Registered: 02/17/01
Posts: 2,778
Loc: 0 moco
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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Re: Tropical Fish [Re: Adden]
#4106098 - 04/28/05 07:56 AM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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I've kept south american cichlids for around 6 or 7 years... Currently all I have is one foul Jack Dempsey (along with a placo and a rafael cat). Discus are beautiful but I haven't wanted to start keeping them until I can give the dedication they need. Same with a marine tank.... not until I own my own home and know that I won't be moving around once a year (as I have during college and post-college). All my pics are on my computer... which is currently being shipped to my new home....
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Vampire999
Man Of ManyAquariums
Registered: 04/30/00
Posts: 2,431
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Last seen: 11 years, 11 months
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Re: Tropical Fish [Re: Phred]
#4106153 - 04/28/05 08:27 AM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yep I know all about them already pretty much. Spent about a week nonstop researching online with the various forums. Hooked up with some local breeders as well.
I got my first batch mail order.. didn't show up very healthy. They are in those hospital tanks right now. Doing 50% water changes daily with aged and heated tap water.
I had to treat them for hex which was all kinds of fun. 92F and metro every day for 5 days 250mg's in each 10 gallon.
I have been told by the local breeders and lots of people online to get them converted to tap water, especially if I want to breed them. Since that's an easy trigger for them and makes it harder if they are in RO all the time.
I will still be getting a nice standard filter just to remove some of the solids since the water here in AZ is the devil.
I am really not surprised how many of you are into it. We all seem to share the same interests at one point or another. I'll keep everyone updated with some pics and stories.
I need to get some more fish because 3 is a horrible number to have with discus. Which I why I originally had 4.. but one didn't make it through the first day after shipping
Man did that company get some shit from me. Anyway since I have met lots of people now I know where and who to get things through. Great groups.
-------------------- ./configure --without-sanity --without-logic --without-regret 01100110011101010110001101101011011110010110111101110101 jaded = safe != happy Were not familly, we are the shroomery, and to some thats thicker than blood.
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Phred
Fred's son
Registered: 10/18/00
Posts: 12,949
Loc: Dominican Republic
Last seen: 9 years, 2 months
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Wow. I just took a look at that breeder's page. Some spectacular specimens there for sure.
I had one (I THINK it was a male) that looked about halfway between the ones he calls "Red Leopard" and the ones he calls "Super Red Scorpion". He was a truly spectacular fish, a bit over six inches in diameter and healthy as a horse, but I could never get him to breed.
Most of mine were standard Turquoise, with a few splendid (and VERY large) Heckels and a few Browns. The Browns were the most reliable breeders. Those suckers popped out batch after batch like clockwork.
Man, the range of colors now is certainly greater than two decades ago. There are so many more reds (which in my opinion are the most spectacular) and now there are colors we didn't dream of -- tangerine, solid yellow, white. I do notice that even now the rarest color seems to be a true "emerald" green -- that is the deep and rich green of some of the wild-caught specimens from the Amazon. Even the ones he calls "Emerald Green" are really just a sort of greeny turquoise.
I always kept mine in well-aged tap water, but I was fortunate that the water where I lived at the time (Ottawa, Canada) was pretty good. Not too hard, and back then they were still using just chlorine rather than chloramine. But even then I had a completely wicked filtration system and I was fanatical about vacuuming food debris from the gravel regularly. Like I said before, they really are sloppy eaters. It's pretty much mandatory to have a few plecos in there -- just don't let them get too large or they freak the Discus. The plecos also will eat the eggs, so they have to come out when it's spawning time. With Discus there is no such thing as too much organic filtration. I can't remember now how many cannisters I had inline just for organic filtration. A bunch.
I agree it is best to get them used to your tap water as soon as you can. If the water is well-aged and well-filtered they will usually do well. I must admit I have no idea what your local tap water is like, though.
My staple food for them was the frozen beef heart mixture, as well as FREEZE DRIED tubifex cubes. Live tubifex worms are way too dirty for Discus -- parasite problems for sure. They also liked frozen bloodworms and they totally LOVED white worms. White worms are a breeze to culture, too, and they are CLEAN. They went nuts for brine shrimp, too, but only the really big mature ones. The little ones escaped their attention and ended up dying and fouling the filters. Fortunately, brine shrimp are also dead simple to culture.
Yeah... Discus require a lot of care and effort, but they are such truly magnificent fish, and breeding them is a hoot and a half. And -- as I said earlier -- there can be a significant amount of coin to be made with them if you manage to get a few good breeding pairs going.
Phred
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sucklesworth
Lick me where Ipee
Registered: 08/01/03
Posts: 54,259
Loc: If I was up yer ass you'd...
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fish are rad
I like salt now
live reef tanks and aggresives like triggers and lions are my fav
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Vampire999
Man Of ManyAquariums
Registered: 04/30/00
Posts: 2,431
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Last seen: 11 years, 11 months
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These guys are really big now and amazing looking. Again the pictures do no justice. You cant really tell the size either.
They would probably be larger but its hard for me to take care of them like I used to because of work and whatnot.
http://shroomery.org/~vampire/fish/092505/
-------------------- ./configure --without-sanity --without-logic --without-regret 01100110011101010110001101101011011110010110111101110101 jaded = safe != happy Were not familly, we are the shroomery, and to some thats thicker than blood.
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