My Discus Keeping Journey - Part 1

I started my Discus keeping hobby in 1980, right after I obtained my degree in graphic design from United Kingdom.

My home town is Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. Yeah, Penang, one of the capitals of the King of Freshwater Fish. I now hang out in Sri Kembangan, in the state of Selangor in Malaysia.

Any hoo, my first purchase was a pair of Brown Discus. It was Malaysian Ringgit 12 each. That's about USD3 (USD1 = MR4 exchange rate; it's about USD1 = MR4.25 now in 2008 i think, too lazy to work it out).

Today 28 years later, I'm breeding them like crazy. Bit of luck! I now own 17 tanks and 7 active pairs - but only as a hobby, i have not sold a single fish yet!

My journey is on and off. I even went the marine route and arowana chasing but, in the end, it is back to Discus. Because, I thought I could breed them. AND now I have. Woo hoo!

Yes, lots of egg eating, even yesterday, a pair which has successfully gave me 30+ frys just ate their eggs!

Netting them is useless me thinks. Firstly, they go bad ( nope, drops of Meth Blue ain't no use). Secondly, when u remove the netting - it's eaten, guaranteed!

So. . . I just leave them to it. No peeking or changing water till they are free swimming seems to be the rule. You can keep feeding - but sparingly. That was taught by, of all people, a construction worker who happened to be renovating my neighbour's house. God sends me such angels. I'm so blessed.

BTW, I embraced Christianity not too long ago, 3 years back I think.

I prayed for the eggs to turn to frys - and they did! Miraculous huh? And I've been keeping Discus and breeding un-successfully since 1980!

Halleluyah! No, this is not to evangelise any body. You pray to your own God.

I'll post pictures of my minor miracle when I've downloaded the software of my new Canon IXUS 70 (about MR700, yeah I'm obsessed with money, aren't u? I bought da camera for this. My other camera, an Olymous has been hi-jacked by my dotter.)

OK, about my 17 tanks. I have 03 stations. 01 is my living room x2 show tanks of 48" x 18" x 18".

02 is upstairs, in my hobby room (I also dabble in model making: 1/24 DTM & rally cars; 1/35 WWII German armour; mostly Tamiya, some Dragon). I have my breeders here; eight tanks of 30" x 15" x 15". Water level is up to 13" only. I use AC/DC air pumps - this place is notorious for lightning storms which trip the electricity.

03 is out in the car porch. One 48" tank, three 30", and three 36" tanks.

Temperature in Malaysia is in the 80s (F), so no need for heaters. I do stick in one in the growing out tank tho.

Seriously, can't qualify this moment in time (July 2008) as complete success yet, as my first batch of babies are only half inch (or less) in size!!! They are a problem now. I don't know what to feed them. I give them frozen Baby Brine Shrimp, baby pellets, and even tetra bits. Hmmm, seems to be working. I get 1 or 2 deaths now and then, so...

My adults and juveniles are fed frozen (and freeze-dried, Taiwanese) blood worms and Tetra bits (yeah, they sink). i change water according to my mood, energy level and. . . mood. Ha ha.

I am in the advertising industry, so sometimes very, very busy. I get lots of sleepless nights. For instance, it is 0402 in the frigging morning now and I'm typing this shit out - wanted to change water but arrrrgh lazy. . . man. So, a swig of Guinness Stout should do.

Did I mention I also (trying) breed Bulldogs? Well, I have a bitch and a male. And, apparently, the bitch is pregnant. Not sure. But sure know, it has the male's sperm. Did an AI (Artificial Insemination - RM200).

I guess this is it for Part 1.

Parting is sad but u can always check in later when I get another bout of insomnia, neh?