Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm gonna take a wild guess and say around 98% of us have had juvenile fish at 2.5-3.5" (homegrown or store-bought). We've all seen individual threads from SD members sharing their past experiences, but where's the collective thread on the good, the bad, and the ugly?

I'll kick things off: my first post on here was a disaster - my "Growing in planted 150 gallon" thread got slammed. That thread lasted about 3 years, saw several groups come and go, and had a few fish reach 6" (5.5" was the average - huge difference if you ask me).

I loved it, but if I'm being honest, those fish weren't exactly a success story. I'll update this thread later with a link to my old thread, which has all the details.

I want to hear from you guys - either brag about your successes (with links to your old threads if you've got 'em) or share your failures. I'm willing to bet I'll get 2-4 people to post, but I'm hoping for at least 20 experiences. Not just replies, but actual posts about your experiences. Lately, I think 20 might be a stretch - too many SD members are hesitant to share their stories, and that's how we learn. "Yeah, yeah, daily 100% water changes and high-protein diets" - we've all heard it before. But I want to hear about your successes and failures, even if you're a seasoned pro.

Time for another drink, then I'm switching to cab.

Re: ANYONE Share: Raising 2.5-3.5" to +6" fails & success

I'm in on this thread too. I had a thread a while back on growing out in a planted tank (link: http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthrea ... highlight=). I had my share of successes and failures. The tank was a beast to maintain but the results were worth it. I got a few to 6" but most topped out around 5.5". Not bad, but I was hoping for more. I learned a lot from that experience and I'm still experimenting with different techniques. Anyone else have experience with growing out in a planted tank?

Re: ANYONE Share: Raising 2.5-3.5" to +6" fails & success

Elliot, don't you recall the 2018 growout contest? I think it's worth revisiting: http://forum.simplydiscus.com/forumd...r-Contest-2018. Those fry were indeed smaller, but the contest threads are packed with valuable insights, covering both successes and setbacks.

I participated in that contest and gained a great deal from the experience. I'd say my personal outcome was a success, but I'm still working to refine my skills - currently focusing on raising fry to 2 inches. It's an ongoing process.

Re: ANYONE Share: Raising 2.5-3.5" to +6" fails & success

I've had some experience with growing out BD's. Raised a spawn from their parents to a decent size, around 5" when I sold them - they still had some growing to do. That was a while back, unfortunately, the pics are long gone. Had my fair share of disappointments before and after that, though.

Re: ANYONE Share: Raising 2.5-3.5" to +6" fails & success

If a discus isn't growing out right, it's usually because it wasn't given the care it needed. People want the bigger, healthier ones for a reason - they live longer. What you put into your discus is what you get out of them. It's simple. When you see pics, you can tell how well they're being cared for if you know what to look for.

Re: ANYONE Share: Raising 2.5-3.5" to +6" fails & success

I've had my fair share of growing out discus, some reaching as big as 7-8". For me, the average size is usually between 5.5" to 6.5", with some slightly larger, and genetics playing a role. I wasn't comparing the health of smaller discus to bigger ones. It's like comparing an elephant's lifespan to a mouse - not the point I was making. My point is, if you don't help them reach their full growth potential, something in their environment is affecting their development. Here's a growth rate chart that shows how they should develop: https://diskuszucht-stendker.de/plug...sfische_en.pdf

Re: ANYONE Share: Raising 2.5-3.5" to +6" fails & success

I think most of the info we need is already on this forum. Just head to the hospital section, you'll find a wealth of knowledge there.

Re: ANYONE Share: Raising 2.5-3.5" to +6" fails & success

Mervin, D'Bunk, Liz, Pat - all good folks. I've gotta admit, my attempt to stir the pot didn't quite work out as planned. I might just have to resort to drastic measures to get some of you quiet ones to share your experiences. I'm talking about posting some...ahem...interesting photos of myself if that's what it takes to get the conversation going.

Re: ANYONE Share: Raising 2.5-3.5" to +6" fails & success

Feeling lonely, Elliot? We've all been there - poking, prodding, trying to get a rise out of the quiet ones. Even the most... creative threats (I'm looking at you, speedo) don't seem to do the trick.

What drives me is the pursuit of perfection - beautiful, well-shaped Discus that thrive in their environment. I'm not alone in this; many of the old-timers here share my passion. For me, it's about the fish, not just about having healthy, happy fish. I want to see those stunning, flowing fins and vibrant colors that make a Discus truly special.

Now, I know we don't all see eye-to-eye on what makes a beautiful tank. If you're happy with smaller, football-shaped fish with large eyes, that's perfectly fine. I'm not here to judge. But for me, it's about creating a masterpiece - a stunning display of nature's beauty. If I were to set up a showpiece tank in my living room, I'd probably opt for something like Rainbow fish, which are far more forgiving when it comes to optimal conditions.

Hope I haven't ruffled any feathers, Elliot. I value your input and don't want to see you disappear like Danny did.

Re: ANYONE Share: Raising 2.5-3.5" to +6" fails & success

You're the best, Liz. I'm still holding onto hope that we can get our more experienced members to open up and share their stories. I know we've got a lot of active folks lurking around here, but it feels like they're just waiting for someone else to make the first move. I'm convinced there's a way to get the ball rolling, I just need to figure out what that magic spark is. Clearly, my Speedo threat didn't do the trick, so I'm back to the drawing board.