Discus Controversy WARNING - MOST Confronting Discus Video you will see this Year.

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Most popular comments
for Discus Controversy WARNING - MOST Confronting Discus Video you will see this Year.

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Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

Over the Last 20 years, Professor Lou has paid off his Shop, his house, sent his children through school, and paid for his International travels, by importing, breeding and selling Discus Fish. At any one time there are over US$50,000 worth of Discus inside his Oakleigh Store.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+Denver Eduard Yes Denver, he most certainly does. What interests him is the results of aquaculture. Mak also formulates and mixes his own range of water conditioners, which further increases his success.

Denver Eduard - 8 years ago

+colinbarsby so in other words he knows what he is doing.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+HannaPro LLC Some extra money never hurts.

FlyRenegade - 5 years ago

Interesting, thanks!

Colin Barsby - 5 years ago

Yes, it gets people talking :)

sagrath1982 - 6 years ago

Better get corycats or plecos for the same porpoise

Charles Urias - 6 years ago

Good idea in a way. Personally I would be turned off every time I saw that goldfish, whose job it is to literally eat shit full time.

Colin Barsby - 6 years ago

Except that, even Discus pick at the poo on the bottom, which is how intestinal parasites spread so quickly between a group of fish. This is why Discus keepers become fanatical about vacuuming bare bottom tanks and changing so much water. Remember that the goldfish always joins in at regular proper feeding times, so they are as well fed with proper food as all the Discus :)

Eric K - 6 years ago

Ha ha, that’s cool. Too bad goldfish eat plants! Would be a great discus planted tank companion otherwise.

Colin Barsby - 6 years ago

It's a really effective combination together. You notice I never have one in my planted tank LOL :)

Sara Dillard - 6 years ago

I keep a lepored leaf cichlid w my discus. I might have the name wrong sry. But everytime my discus start fighting the lepored cichlid jumps in and stops it. I thought at first he would b a problem w the discus but the live really well together

Colin Barsby - 6 years ago

Discus aggression can be really frustrating, especially when the targeted fish in the group becomes so harassed, it stops competing for food. That can be when another "distraction" fish becomes really useful. :)

Budgies' Lovers - 6 years ago

So i can Put Discus with Gold Fish??

Budgies' Lovers - 6 years ago

colinbarsby Thanks!!

Colin Barsby - 6 years ago

Short answer is No. But excellent question. Assuming the temperatures were up to Discus levels, multiple goldfish will push the Discus away from food and the Discus will starve to death. Water quality would also be hard to keep up.

BALDOCKS TROPICANA - 6 years ago

I've kept goldfish with too many fish to name.

Colin Barsby - 6 years ago

I think "Friendly" is the best description for them. They are super social.

BALDOCKS TROPICANA - 6 years ago

Not at all... They're the friendliest fish.. They begged for food together with angels and my discus

Colin Barsby - 6 years ago

The goldfish never complain :)

Yevette - 7 years ago

This video is indeed controversial as it flies in the face of the rule I've seen a trillion times: Do not combine cold water and tropical fish. I am looking to get Discus for my aquarium but I also wanted a couple of Oranda Goldfish which I thought I would have to keep separately. If you decide to put Goldfish and Discus together, is there a certain type of goldfish that you can keep with Discus? Can it be Oranda Goldfish? I had to ask. :-)

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

Oranda are perfect. The discus still require very warm clean water 80 -82 F which the oranda will happily share. Provide ideal conditions for the discus, and both will thrive.

10. comment for Discus Controversy WARNING - MOST Confronting Discus Video you will see this Year.

theklrdude oo - 7 years ago

good luck with that !
maybe eating each others shit is a cultural thing , but i don't see the benefit !

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

That's what the mud in rivers and lakes is made from. Critters have been sifting through it for millions of years. It's everywhere.

Michael Lou - 7 years ago

I used to keep discus and I currently keep very fancy goldfish like crown pearlscales and I would never subject them to such an uncomfortable living situation as putting them with discus. I love both types of fish and it’s cruel and unethical to use one for the benefit of the other. And, my crown pearlscales are just as expensive as the best of the discus.

MELODY MUNRO - 6 years ago

its not cruel - nature is full of symbiotic relationships.

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

Expensive Fancy goldfish LOVE Discus conditions. Guaranteed from 30 years of actual experience. Most Fancy goldfish come to Australia from Singapore breeding farms. Singapore is never cold and living in that warm water is not cruel. Fancy goldfish often do badly in cold water that regular comets and shubumkins thrive in.

Slow Runner - 7 years ago

I have a jack dempsey with my discus

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

Forget Mayweather vs McGregor, that sounds like Mayweather vs Arianna Grande. How long did it last?

ross fegan - 7 years ago

i keep my discus with fancy goldfish because of this video

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

Excellent. It is one of those strange but true stories. :)

ross fegan - 7 years ago

yeah pretty good i did it after watching this video and the goldfish do eat all the discus waste as the video says, the goldfish are harmless and seem to thrive at 30c

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

How is it working for you?

Laura Reed - 7 years ago

Very interesting I have Discus so I might try a goldfish after it's quarantined of course

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

The behaviour of a discus group can be all happiness, or full of frustrations. The wobbly bumbling around of a single fantail goldfish appears to calm the discus and make them more relaxed if they were skittish before.

Sparticus - 7 years ago

i find it a very unusual combination to be quite honest but not impossible ill stick to the all discus idea thx for the video

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

Very, very unusual to be sure. Practical fish husbandry, but unusual. Thanks for watching and commenting.

Medi Juliyanto - 7 years ago

even in the breeding tank?

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

Better not. Usually you only want the breeding pair by themselves.

Ramsy Hai - 7 years ago

fkkkk i nvr know goldfish can be kept with discus :( i brought a suckerfish

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

Many fish can be good with Discus. Thanks for watching.

George Calderon - 7 years ago

thanks

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

UR Welcome George, glad you found it interesting. :)

Nerd Herd - 7 years ago

I've never thought of keeping goldfish as a companion for discus. Like you said, I always automatically assumed that goldfish would ruin the water quality due to their high bioload. I'll give this a try on one of my stock tanks first.

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

Unusual pairings of companion animals include Alpacas with Sheep and Maremma sheep dogs with Chickens, so this is just one more. :)

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

Let us know how it works for you, and what differences you notice. Thanks for watching.

20. comment for Discus Controversy WARNING - MOST Confronting Discus Video you will see this Year.

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

The single goldfish can scavenge what would take a dozen corydoras catfish, and the goldfish bumbles all around the tank, which seems to reduce skittish darting by the discus. I think the concept of water changing has become somewhat out of control myself. Fish farms are located near to excellent water sources, they pump fish with food to accelerate growth, so they are faster to sell. That is why commercial Fish farms change so much water, so often. The home aquarium should not operate exactly the same. Subbed.

Piranha and the dirt planted tank - 7 years ago

Absolutely interesting. i have 6 juvenile discus and the aggression due to pecking order stresses the weakest and the smallest fish.
I am going to throw a few gold fish to also see if it would distract discus aggression towards each other.
thanks for uploading!

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

The story behind this video, is to do with different advice, bad advice and unexpected advice. My friend has been doing this for years and years, much to the surprise and shock of most people. Subbed back.

Piranha and the dirt planted tank - 7 years ago

colinbarsby thanks so much for the tip. will let you know how it turns out. subbed you! ; )

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

I think only one would be enough, and be sure it is a fantail type. They definitely are a distraction in the hierarchy and hopefully will reduce the bullying. Let us know how it turns out.

Rustam Alimov - 7 years ago

Diskusbabys ohne Elterntiere hoch ziehen - Untertitel auf Deutsch Искусственный подъём мальков дискусов видео: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqX1tZZdsP8

Nelly v D - 7 years ago

Very informative and intriguing video. At first I was very skeptical but the professor has proved his point. I have many discus at home with multiple tank syndrome lol. I kept some bottom feeders with them to "help clean up discus waste" and worked quite effectively. I also like the contrast of movement in my tank by slow moving, levitating discus fish with that of "fluttering" catfish, but often found my fish a little startled by sudden movements. It makes complete sense to put another slow moving fish with discus as to not scare them with sudden movements and really create a harmony. I wonder if Goldfish in South Africa will have the same effect? Lovely video indeed! I am addicted to the Symphysodon species, to me they don't look like they swim, they simply get carried by the water in a royal manner!

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

Discus can be very skittish, and another slow moving dither fish, is very helpful to calm them down. The key hygiene element with the fantail goldfish, is that the discus poop is removed when the goldfish eats it, and the Discus are less prone to getting intestinal parasites from each other. The goldfish is not affected.

Ed DaVinci - 7 years ago

25$ for one adult congo tetra?!...

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

LOL. Yes, I just checked, XL Male, in $AUD. not sure how fast they sold. :)

HalfMan HalfCichlid - 7 years ago

what program of water changes do you do with the goldfish? How much water changed how often?

Colin Barsby - 7 years ago

These are Fish and Tanks at Oakleigh Aquarium Fish Importers in Melbourne, owned and run by Mak Lou. Mak and I worked together at Aquarium Life in the late '80's. There is only 1 double tail goldfish per Discus tank. The tanks are controlled more by bacterial action than water changes. Which is not what you normally hear online. Mak uses a colloidal mineral complex, PH Buffer and water changing, in combination. So to answer your question, approx. 20% water changes weekly as a part of his water management.

Gaina - 8 years ago

That was really interesting :). I absolutely love Discus but they're a bit 'too much fish' for me at the moment it terms of the space they need and labour involved but I will save this video and refer back to it when I'm ready to take the plunge (no pun intended! haha).

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

These fish give you more to think about than most others, that's for sure. Thanks for watching and commenting Gaina.

Sheena Rebel - 8 years ago

stupid master you are.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

Veteran, Professional fishkeepers sharing Practical techniques, is probably not Stupid Sheena. But the world has noted your opinion. Thanks for commenting.

William Mc Donald - 8 years ago

I have a planted aquarium with six Discus would it be OK to add the goldfish as I hear they can be hard on plants. I do agree Discus produce lots of waste.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+William Mc Donald Excellent. My favourite aquatic plant.

William Mc Donald - 8 years ago

+colinbarsby The plants are doing well. Mostly water wisteria.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+William Mc Donald The hardest part is keeping live plants happy at that temperature, but that is ideal for the discus.

William Mc Donald - 8 years ago

84 The Discus are seven months old.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+William Mc Donald What temperature do you keep the tank?

William Mc Donald - 8 years ago

+colinbarsby Thank you for replying.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+William Mc Donald Sadly, when you have live plants, Goldfish will destroy them. So this tank cleaning method only really works in a bare bottom tank.

Antonio de Luca - 8 years ago

Interesting..but as I see this it's cruel to use goldfish as sacrificial fish. Lower ph's and high temperatures are indeed stress factors for them. I've got two fish tanks..one filled with goldfishes and a discus only. I wouldn't use my goldfish as sacrificial fish although it could be interesting for people who don't actually care for them.

Joey Ridzwan - 6 years ago

Getting a pair of goldfish in a bit as a token of sacrification to my discus tank. Do i need to sing kumbaya as part of the ceremony?

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+colinbarsby Mak keeps his Discus in a PH of 6.5 - 7.0 which they thrive in, and so do the Goldfish.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+Antonio de Luca Honestly, the goldfish are NOT truly sacrificial.
People who want to keep discus, have more motivation than normal, to keep their aquariums in Good condition, which means the Goldfish are living in paradise. Water at 30 degrees Celsius, does not stress them at all. Thanks for watching and joining the conversation Antonio.

30. comment for Discus Controversy WARNING - MOST Confronting Discus Video you will see this Year.

wyzemann - 8 years ago

This was absolutely interesting! No, I don't keep Discus for now, but I'm greatly intrigued by this technique. Thank You, you've earned a sub!

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+wyzemann Thanks. Discus are becoming the number one "Pick a Colour you like" fish in the hobby, and at the same time, have a frightening reputation, and price tag.
My friend Mak, has been shocking fish keepers in my city for years with keeping these two fish together. Mak is the most practical fish expert I know. And I have to stress, he is an expert.
Appreciate you watching and commenting.

MELODY MUNRO - 8 years ago

Have to 100% agree with the goldfish being able to handle the warmer temps...I live in subtropical Queensland and my tanks sit on 29C most of summer..I find that I have to do regular water changes on my mbuna tank and increase the aeration as you can actually see that they struggle with the high temp all day everyday...however, the goldfish are not worried about it one bit.they are really active and eat like sea cows.....I do increase aeration for them too though...

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+ORANGE FISHHEAD LOL. I was aware it would raise a few eyebrows. I do have some more thought provoking videos coming up, and this was to kick off a series. And I wanted some of the customers at Mak's store to get a little more information and reassurance. :-)
Thanks for your contributions to the discussion. Appreciate you watching.

MELODY MUNRO - 8 years ago

+colinbarsby I thought it was a really interesting and thought provoking video...I don't know where we get the idea that goldfish are cold water fish....and we fish keepers dont seem to have a problem using plecos, algae eaters or corydoras as a clean up crew so what's the difference with using a gold fish?..So never mind the negative feedback..there are those of us that did enjoy it and see the value in what was presented..us fish keepers need to be willing to consider/try new ideas and information - if we want to continue to grow as a hobby.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+ORANGE FISHHEAD Boy, I got some really negative feedback with this one. As I explain in a previous video, I worked in an Aquarium Fish Import Store, and we were joined by an Aquaculture Professor from one of Shanghai's Universities in China. And the Chinese have techniques of keeping fish, a little bit different to what we think is normal.
Most of the Goldfish coming into Australia are bred in Singapore Fish farms, and that water is Tropical and Warm. Goldfish love warm water.
I think the natural reaction of people is that Discus are special, and that goldfish are for beginners.
My friend the Chinese Professor, just wants the goldfish to eat the Discus poop, which prevents the Discus from doing it.

BGD Shrimps - 8 years ago

Hello! I breed shrimps i have 12 aquariums with many types of them. Please subscribe my channel :)

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+BGD Shrimps Subbed.

utdnut - 8 years ago

i was given 2 gold fish a couple of years ago a fan tail and a normal gold fish i put them in my 100g discus tank there were 6 discus in there they loved it the discus were not bothered and the gold fish grew to a huge size until they unfortunately died after about 2 years in the tank

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+utdnut You were ahead of your time. LOL. My friend Mak likes how gentle the goldfish are, and how relaxed the Discus become with them swimming about. Number one is that they eat everything in the tank and keep it spotless.

viper express - 8 years ago

does it matter what type of goldfish & how many ? thanks

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+viper express Mak only uses 1 double tail goldfish per Discus Tank. The double tail varieties move more slowly and only one is needed to scavenge every single piece of organic matter in the tank.

Rich's Fishes - 8 years ago

interesting. someone asked if I had seen this, and it sure sounds like a bad idea at face value. I understand the idea of the goldfish as a scavenger, but what about the goldfish waste (which is typically quite excessive compared to otherfish?) I also tend to disagree with the idea of using any fish as a "canary". if you keep up with maintenance and are a responsible fish keeper no "canary" should be necessary as you should spot any problem before they get out of hand.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+Rich's Fishes I had a problem with 2 YouTube videos, that advised letting your fish acclimatise to your local water supply. For sure OK for some people, and I think, disastrous for some others. I was called Ridiculous for suggesting that the Top YouTubers try to be as specific as possible, with that sort of advice. Hence, I will attempt some explanations of my own. Appreciate talking with you. Look forward to chatting more.

Rich's Fishes - 8 years ago

+colinbarsby I like your approach and the idea of "different" advice. However like any advice given in this hobby or any other, no one should simply follow blindly without doing their own research and trying things out to see what works! There are always exceptions to the "rules" (who wrote that rule book to begin with anyway?); and there will always be those who have great success doing things their own way.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+Rich's Fishes I used this, as an excellent example to everyone, of "different" advice. This hobby has a lot of divergent views and advice on every aspect. What is different, is not necessarily "wrong", and my good friend Mr Lou, has been raising eyebrows for decades with this one. I do have a number of videos coming where I will do some teaching of my own. mostly as easily understood tutorials. This was to begin the series, and illustrate, that thinking, is our most important tool for aquarium success.
Of course, back to this one, many Discus companion fish do not raise an eyebrow, and all that has changed, is our own preconceived ideas of which fish we rank, as being "worthy" far more than what lives naturally in the same Biotope.
Many people in "Third World" countries, value animals like Pigs and goats extremely highly, for the same reasons my friend Mak, values goldfish.
Mak very clearly explained that, nonaggressive was first, and waste processing was second, where everything is eaten, with the final goldfish waste virtually empty of any solids.
Canary, was a distant last, where the goldfish are less tolerant to acidity than Discus.
Discus keepers, due to cost and genuine engagement, should know their water parameters long before any fish are in danger of death by acidosis.
Really appreciate you watching and taking the time to contribute.

Robin`s aquarium - 8 years ago

Very informative and good video, thumbs up!

Robin`s aquarium - 8 years ago

You`re welcome!

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+Robin`s aquarium Thankyou. Appreciate you watching and commenting.

Baliram Bhoir - 8 years ago

I like to see fish program

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+Baliram Bhoir Thankyou for watching and commenting Baliram.

OZZYTHEOSCAR - 8 years ago

Really interesting. Definitely makes a lot of sense. I'm just thinking that it slightly ruins the look of the discus, if they were in a display tank, but for tanks of this nature, as in the video , or growing on tanks etc , has definate plus points

MELODY MUNRO - 8 years ago

+OZZYTHEOSCAR Oh come on..how could a big fat wiggly piggly gold fish with a giant turd hanging out its bum spoil a display tank?

OZZYTHEOSCAR - 8 years ago

+colinbarsby oh yeah, I am subbed to that channel already. I love the fancy goldfish too.

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+OZZYTHEOSCAR Yes. I think once you get your head around the concept, it's not hard to find a beautiful form of goldfish that you also enjoy looking at. Check out the Solid Gold YouTube channel. I have always liked Ryukins.

Dendrochirus zebra - 8 years ago

Very informative video, thanks for sharing!

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+Dendrochirus zebra You are Very Welcome. I appreciate you watching and commenting.

Dan Hiteshew - 8 years ago

Most "Coldwater" fish don't actually need col d water. It just means that they don't need tropical temps. I used to keep my native tank at room temp. without issue. I could do water changes without worrying about matching the temps. I just re-filled the tankl with cold tap water and they were always fine. (it would get so cold that the tank would "sweat" with condensation)

Colin Barsby - 8 years ago

+Dan Hiteshew Thanks Dan. We could talk aquariums ALL DAY. LOL. Appreciate you watching and commenting buddy.

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