capekate

Hello...
I will be bringing home two discus that I have had on hold at the LFS. After doing alot of reading I realize that when a "dark" Discus is mentioned, its usually means that the discus is sick. My problem is that one of the discus that is on hold was in a tank with only three others. This particular one, is very dark. almost all dark red. The shop worker told me that is not a red one, that its actually a red/turquoise. I thought that strange with it not showing any turquoise. I was thinking that maybe its just immature, at about 3inches tops, and it just hasn't shown its colors yet. Now I am wondering if it was sick. It was shy and stayed at the back of the tank and didn't move around much. The other two had nice colors and were up in the front of the tank.Now I'm not sure what to do, as I will be paying 25 dollars apiece, I don't want to bring a sick one home. Should I just go with the other two and leave that one there? OR is it actually the color of the fish and its not sick? I know thats a hard question to answer, so I guess my real question is can someone give me a definition of what is a 'dark' Discus fish term??
Thanks so much... and any advice on my newly soon to be acquired discus fish and what is a real good fish food I should be bringing home with me would sure be helpful!
thanks, ~ kate

MelissaF672

Discus are not only dark when they are ill. They turn dark when they're scared or nervous, or unhappy like if they don't like the way the water feels...

When i approach my tanks some of mine are getting used to me and don't swim away but for SURE i always have 2 or 3 (usually my Brilliant Blue's) that turn away and get very dark. I think it's a natural defense...a blending in thing maybe?

But that is not to say that sickness is ruled out in the fishy you were talking about. A good way to observe fish behavior without outside influences is to turn of allll the lights in the room their tank is in, then turn the tank light on and they can't see out. It will take them a little bit but eventually they should begin swimming around normally and maybe pecking around for food acting like the happy little piggies they are... UNLESS they've been moved around a lot and they're young. Baby discus get stressed out very easily. IF this fish is THAT stressed out you might want to steer clear of it anyhow, a nervous high-strung fish can be susceptible to disease.

capekate

Thanks Melissa
When I went back to the LFS to pick up the discus that dark one was no longer dark, so your right it must have been stressed or scared. I brought the three home, including that one and you can see the photos of them on the Discus photos section. They are all doing great and seem to be very happy. I love these guys...

Tom

So it is like female bettas with their stress stripes. Cool. I love fish that are able to tell you how they are feeling by the coloration.
Tom