Discus Temptation

Hi,
I've been offered a pair of discus by a friend. I'm so tempted to take them, it's been almost 20 years since I've had any discus, and I would love to have them.

I do have a few questions that I'm hoping the forum fundis on discus can help me with.

I have observed them, they are very young, but seem to actually be a pair. How can I be more certain?
Just by skimming through some of the forum threads, I picked up that shape is a big deal. Please comment on the photos, are these fish up to standard?
If I take them, probably will, because I can't stop thinking about them, I have a bare 1m tank to house them. Will this suffice for the next 6 months?
I'm prepared to do a 10% daily water change, is this good enough?
There is a canister filter that needs some attention in my storeroom, I'll add it later.
What's the perfect dimensions tank to house them for 2 years, assuming they are indeed a pair, and want to breed?
The smallest tank I can do the above in?
Anybody know exactly what strain these fish are, and if they are any good?
Any/all comments will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

 

Don't know how young they are, one might be stunted. How big are they? I can't see without something to compare them to. The colour looks quite mature compared to my Cobalt Blue who isn't showing that much blue even at about a year. One's shape looks good, the other could be better, but if you like them who's to say you need show quality dinnerplates? As for the strain I would say Flachen, also known as Ocean Green, if that is the true colour. If in real life they are less green and more blue, they are Cobalts if they ever show stress bars and Blue Diamonds if they don't.

 

@Reedfish:
No room for six discus!
But.. I observed these fish for about 40 minutes, they are in a tank with about ten other similarly sized discus, the pair moved together, and bullied the rest of the discus. Didn't quarrel with each other.
There's no way I'm going to take them if they are not a pair.

 

@lep2soma,

It would depend on what your intention with these fish are. If you wanna keep them cause you like them, its best to leave them as 2 fish by themself = problems.
If you are really hoping they will breed, Id still say leave them. They are young, one seems a tad stunted and so for breeding they will just give you issues. If you breed them now the female will stop growing and at their size they will find it difficult to raise any young.
Its doable, but if you have never bred discus its not the way to start.

Rgds

Marco

 

@Marco:;@PsyXe:;@Reedfish:
Thank you for your input.
You have helped me decide NOT to take these fish on. I appreciate your responses.
By the way, they were imported from Germany, and came in under the name 'snakeskin blue', if that makes sense to anybody.

 

Good decision @lep2soma !
If you start with any disadvantage regarding Discus, you can be sure it's a handicap which won't really go away.
If anything ,your problems become amplified!!

To be tempted THEN bitten by the Discus Bug is a fantastic obsession many succumb to.
I wouldn't give it up for the world:nuts:

Clearly visible if you have a squizz here
They do not look like any Blue Snakeskin I know of
Even differing from Stendker's Snakeskin Blue ,if that's where they're reported to be from??

 

@Altum:
Yes they are from Stendker, name may not be correct?

I must say, the photos do not do them justice. The actual colours are stunning, which is what attracted me in the first place. That's why I was prepared to put in the extra work and money involved!

 

Did you take the discus? wat breed are they?