Discus

Hi,

I've been out of fish for a long time (having been preoccupied with other issues in life)... but would like to get back into the game... though, prices seem to have gone mental since I last played

Having previously kept discus, I've been contemplating picking up where I left off... but- probably because I've been out of it for so long- I'm not sure of who are good suppliers (of discus in particular).

Two that did come up in my searches, that looked a bit more appealing:
stradisaquatics.com/ (the website looks good, but expensive!)
georgeaquariumfish.nowonline.biz/ (which I like because they sound like hobbyists)

Anyone tried or has a heads-up for either of these two?

Also, any general info or pointers towards good and reasonable equipment (and tank) suppliers would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

discus are definitely not the cheapest fish to get back into, and I can understand the sticker shock if you've been away for a few years. Prices seem to vary quite a bit depending on the size, strain and whether you're buying locally bred fish or imported stock.
I haven't personally bought from either of those two suppliers, so I wouldn't want to give you a recommendation based purely on their websites. With discus, I'd be more interested in seeing the actual fish, asking how long they've been in their system, what they're feeding, and whether they're eating reliably before buying. If possible, I'd also ask other local hobbyists about their experience with the particular batch rather than judging a supplier by the website alone.
For equipment, I'd definitely shop around rather than buying everything from one place. Tanks, filters and heaters can vary enormously in price, and second-hand equipment can sometimes be a really good way to keep the initial cost under control. Just make sure used tanks are checked carefully for leaks and that heaters and electrical equipment are in good condition.
I'd also recommend getting the tank fully cycled and stable before bringing the discus home. Once you've got a healthy group established, they're such impressive fish that the extra work is usually worth it. If anyone here has bought from either of those suppliers recently, I'd be interested in hearing how the fish arrived and how they settled in.

 

Thanks Kepls, the advice about getting the tank up and stable is sensible.

I'll shop around a bit for some decent second-hand equipment, though moving a large tank very far isn't fun or cheap, so I'll have to keep my eyes open for one locally (which I may do first, before worrying too much about the rest).

I have a few things to sort out in Mossel Bay towards the end of the year, so if things come together, I'll see if I can touch base with the George supplier and see what they have... as a start.

 

For aquariums you can get hold of Global Aquariums (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575952352784). They built me a tank about 2 months ago and seem very reasonably priced. I've just gotten back into fishkeeping after a twenty year hiatus and yeah, prices have definitely gone insane.