Where to purchase Discus?
Probably one of the most important questions we all face as a Discus hobbyist. Some people are lucky enough to live close to a reputable breeder, but for those of us who don't, buying Discus via Mail Order is the way to go. In this article, I'll describe some of the reasons for buying Discus via mail-order, some of the pros and cons, and some steps to take to successfully buy Discus via mail-order.
**> Reasons for buy Discus Mail-Order <**
Why would anyone want to buy Discus via mail order? After all Discus, at local Aquarium shops, cost anywhere from $20-$80+ if they are even available. For that price, wouldn't you want to see the product? Not necessarily. Unless you have a local Aquarium shop or Breeder that is an experienced and reputable dealer in high quality Discus, you'll probably be better off with mail-order.
First of all, many Aquarium shops do not even carry Discus. One reason for this is that Discus are still regarded as a "specialty" fish. Store owners do not want to be stuck with a high priced fish that will not sell well to the average hobbyist. Another reason is that Discus prefer higher temperature and softer, more acidic water than the rest of their livestock. It may not be economical to maintain a separate tank or tanks for 1 species of fish, as many stores have a central filtration system. Lastly, Discus are still regarded as "delicate" fish that are difficult to keep. Although I do not find this to be true, many store owners and hobbyists believe this to be the case and thus do not deal with Discus. I do not blame store owners for adopting this approach, as they are in business to make money and Discus probably don't give them a high rate of return compared to other fish.
Secondly, even when local Aquarium shops carry Discus, I have always been concerned about the quality of these Discus. If they are very young and yet very colorful, there is a concern that these fish have been exposed to dyes or hormones to enhance the color. Without first hand knowledge of the breeder and his/her hatchery, it is impossible to discern the quality, parentage, or health of the Discus. Also, in most of the stores I've been in that carry Discus, they have been kept in sub-optimal conditions. On the other hand, if you buy Discus via mail-order, you are buying Discus from an expert who specializes in Discus and in many cases, earns a living at breeding and selling Discus.
For these reasons, mail-order is the best option for many Discus hobbyists to purchase high quality Discus at an affordable price. If you do have a local source of quality Discus, here are some tips to follow in purchasing Discus locally:
1) Inquire about the origin of the Discus. If possible, find out who
the breeder is and talk to him/her directly. Ask about the parent fish,
their origin, and breeding history.
2) Have the breeder/store personnel feed the fish in front of you. If
they are hesitant or don't eat, avoid purchasing. Healthy Discus have a
voracious appetite, even if they have just eaten.
3) Determine how long the fish has been in the store. The longer, the
better. Don't buy a fish that has just arrived.
4) DON'T buy the fish the first time you see it. Stop back in a week or
two and have the breeder/ store personnel feed the fish again before
buying.
5) If there are any dark or sick looking fish in the same tank as the
Discus you are interested in, don't buy it.
6) If a young Discus is VERY colorful, be concerned about dyes and
hormones.
**> Pros and Cons of buying Discus via Mail-Order <**
The best situation for a buyer of Discus is to live near a reputable breeder and be able to see the Discus and know that it is a healthy fish from a high quality source. Since this is not the situation that most of us deal with, we make trade-offs. Below are some pros and cons of buying Discus via mail-order vs. buying them locally.
Pros of Buying Mail-Order:
1) Able to buy high quality fish at a reasonable price.
2) You buy directly from the breeder who is a Discus Specialist.
3) Much larger selection to choose from.
4) Able to understand the Discus origin, parentage and breeder
background..
5) Able to understand Discus Health based on Breeders hatchery and
quarantine practices.
Cons of Buying Mail-Order:
1) Don't get to actually see the fish before you buy (although most have
web pages).
2) Have to go to the airport to pick the fish up.
3) Not economical if only buying 1 or 2 fish.
Pros of Buying Locally:
1) Able to observe general health, color and shape of fish before you
buy.
2) Able to determine how long the fish has been in the store and under
what conditions.
3) Convenience, don't have to pick up the fish at the airport.
Cons of Buying Locally:
1) Usually not buying from a Discus specialist.
2) Many times fish kept in sub-optimal conditions.
3) Unable to determine fish parentage and origin.
4) If fish are very colorful, you are unsure about dyes and hormones.
5) Selection is usually more limited.
**> Steps to take in purchasing Discus via Mail-Order <**
The first and most important step in purchasing Discus via Mail-Order is to find a reputable breeder. There are many reputable breeders across the U.S. (can't speak for other countries) so this is not difficult, but it is still important. Since it isn't practical to visit each and every breeder personally, the internet is the best way to find information on breeders and customers who have purchased from these breeders. In addition to web pages, there are two sources I have used to inquire about breeders. One is the Discus Mailing List (discus-L) and the other is the aquaria newsgroups (alt.aquaria and rec.aquaria.freshwater.misc). In these forums, you can inquire about various mail-order sources that fit your needs and requirements. You will usually find more than a few people who have purchased from these sources and can give first hand experiences. I have found these sources to be the most valuable in choosing a mail-order source and these are the best sources to narrow down the field of candidates.
Web pages can also be informative. Many breeders have their own web pages which usually contain pictures of their fish, price listings, guarantees, and shipping procedures. Some also contain information about the hatchery, origin of parent fish, and other pertinent information. These pages are usually helpful in selecting which variety of Discus you which to purchase (since many breeders use different names for basically the same fish), comparing prices between breeders, and making the final decision on which breeder to go with. There are also other web pages that are for Discus and not owned by a breeder. These usually contain information on a variety of breeders so they can be a good starting point.
Things you should look for in a quality breeder:
1) A breeder who knows the origin of his/her breeding pairs.
2) A breeder who has very strict quarantine procedures for new fish.
3) A breeder who takes strong procedures to prevent disease in his/her
hatchery.
4) A breeder who has been in business for a long period of time.
5) A breeder who is willing to answer any questions regarding the fish
and hatchery.
6) A breeder who guarantees the live delivery of his/her fish.
7) A breeder who is willing to show you pictures (either online or snail
mail) of his/her fish.
8) A breeder who has good packing and delivery procedures (ie..bagging,
insulation, etc..) and near perfect survival rate on delivery.
Once you have determined which breeder to purchase from, the next step is to determine what type of fish you want to purchase. If the breeder has a web site with pictures of his/her fish, this is a simple exercise. If the breeder does not have a web site, you should call or e-mail them and ask for some pictures (either over the internet or via snail mail). Be reminded that not all the fish a breeder offers will be available all the time. You must talk with the breeder to determine which fish are available and when to be sure.
Also, make sure you understand the terms and conditions under which they will be sold such as shipping methods, payment terms, any guarantees which apply, provisions for bad weather, who is responsible if the planes are delayed, etc. Most breeders ship the fish via the airlines so this means that you will have to be at the airport to pick the fish up when they arrive (much like a passenger).
A couple of last items to consider in purchasing mail-order. Many breeders have a minimum purchase you must meet and the shipping fee is usually about $50. Therefore, if you only want 1 or 2 fish, mail-order is not always the most economical. One way to get around this is to get a couple of people together for an order (ask if there is any interest at a local fish club or on the internet). This spreads the shipping cost across more than 1 person and makes it economical.
I have personally purchased all 12 of my discus via mail order. I've ordered from two different sources and both times have been very happy with my purchases. I would recommend it to anyone.