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View Full Version : Looking for Pterophyllum altum & Juvi Discus


Slummies
19-01-2009, 13:13
Hey Everone. im posting this on behalf of a friend.

He is looking for Pterophyllum altum. in pure form, no cross breeding.

and

about 20 Juvi Discus. around 5cm each. (is this even possible??)

Thank you!
Henk Hugo
19-01-2009, 14:37
forget about altums.... they cost +- R150 each at 50c coin size... and you WILL have a 90% death rate in the 1st week. i know of 2 guys in SA thats currently keeping altums with some level of success.... and 1 of them holds multiple PHDs.....

Also altums dont cross with other angels.... at all...
Andre
19-01-2009, 14:40
The discus are not difficult to get.

The altums are close to impossible unless he can import them himself or find an importer who really knows his stuff to bring them in for them. Also expect to pay at least R200 per fish @ about 2cm body height with no guarantees on survival.

I brought in a batch of altums with the help of a local importer. They are currently living with another well known aquarist in Cape Town.

Here is a short video of them after they grew out a little:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMGiWua-Pc4
Slummies
19-01-2009, 14:53
seems like money is not a probelm for this guy.. so if i can get in SA, without importing, would be great.

Andre, where can i find the discus?
Henk Hugo
19-01-2009, 14:54
Altums dont get imported unless you take a whole box.... something like 350 per box.... at +-R200 a fish....
Andre
19-01-2009, 14:57
Altums are extremely difficult to breed in captivity. No one in SA (that I know of) has bred true altums yet, so the only option would be to import them.

Juvenile discus are a dime a dozen at most petshops. (ok, maybe a bit more expensive :P)
Slummies
19-01-2009, 15:00
well, if im getting 20 juvi discus i shouldt pay more than R50...

tough on the altums
Henk Hugo
19-01-2009, 15:07
yea something like that - where are you based?
Slummies
19-01-2009, 15:10
im in east london. but will be getting a shipment ffrom SADE! Henk, you know where i can get some spotted green and wild discus?
Henk Hugo
19-01-2009, 15:32
i can get some B grade juvi discus for you from one of the wholesalers and ship it up.... as for the wild discus - yea i do but not sure if i am willing to risk it :P
Slummies
19-01-2009, 16:58
ill speak to my mate and see if his interested. how much we looking at per fish?

haha??! willing to risk what? dont hold out on me:)
Henk Hugo
19-01-2009, 17:24
risk shipping the wild fish....
Slummies
19-01-2009, 17:32
are they in SA?

so i guess you not going to help... shot anyway
Henk Hugo
19-01-2009, 17:35
well they normally bring in 4 or 5 with each SA shipment. if you are willing to take the risk then i will box them up and ship them out
Slummies
19-01-2009, 17:42
pm sent
Slummies
19-01-2009, 21:43
henk, who do you get from?
Dolphin
20-01-2009, 11:30
Slummies... pics from the last batch we imported
Scaly
20-01-2009, 11:49
Hi all...forgive my ignorance but what makes these fish so special? They look like angels?
Andre
20-01-2009, 12:38
Hi Dolphin.

Do you have any of those beautiful altums left? What was your survival rate like?

They seem quite a bit larger than the ones I got previously:

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/8869/dscn5339pc0.jpg

Scaly: There are 3 species of angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare, altum and leopoldi). The altums are larger and IMO more beautiful than the scalare. They are also very difficult to keep and breed. Almost like wild caught Heckel discus.

Have a look at these fish that are currently being kept by Prof Dirk Bellstedt. The largest ones are now around 30cm in height

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7187/dscn9481js5.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c398/Freq43/altums4.jpg
Scaly
20-01-2009, 13:24
ok these are beautiful and I would imagine challenging to keep... I can only imagine what a 30cm specimen looks like, photos never do a fish justice...

are those plecos under the rock?
Dolphin
20-01-2009, 15:40
Hi Andre,

Unfortunately none left from that Batch. Survival rate was very good = 0% DoA on import and I think only 2 lost in quarantine from a total of 30 imported. Largest was around 150mm top to bottom and average about 90-100mm
Andre
20-01-2009, 15:50
You obviously know what you are doing with them. Please let me know if you bring in some more!
Dolphin
20-01-2009, 15:59
You obviously know what you are doing with them. Please let me know if you bring in some more!


will do...
Slummies
20-01-2009, 16:17
thanks dolphin. as i said in the pm, got the fish confused.
Henk Hugo
21-01-2009, 08:28
Great to hear someone got them into SA with very little loss!