Reading recommendations for keeping Discus

Hi Prof. I am planning on setting up my first Discus tank. This will be a slow process and the projected set-up will only be running in a years time. I would like to start studying the ins and outs so long. I don't intend to use the internet for answers until I have some basic knowledge. Any books/authors you can recommend? Thanks, Riaan

 

Hi Riaan,

Finding good books on Discus are not so easy. There are many books which are just rehashes of the previous book that had just appeared on the topic.Bernd Degen started this in Germany, where people saw through the scam, and stopped buying them, but then he linked up with TFH and because the USA market is so large he still does quite well there. So be careful with those books.

The best books on Discus in my opinion were written in Germany about 15 years ago by Hans Mayland. One book was on keeping discus and the next on natural conditions in the Amazon based on his trips there. He gave excellent figures on the water chemistry in all the major rivers in the Amazon and this gave me major insights into how to keep them. However, these books are not translated, a bit pity.

Good books in English are a translation from the German:

Discus Health: Selection, Care, Diet, Diseases & Treatments for Discus, Angelfish and Other Cichlids (Hardcover)

by Dieter Untergasser (Author), U. Eric Friese (Translator)

and then another book not specifically on discus, but which has excellent advice on water chemistry and diseases is:


Manual of Fish Health: Everything You Need to Know About Aquarium Fish, Their Environment and Disease Prevention (Hardcover)

by Chris Andrews (Author), Adrian Exell (Author), Neville Carrington (Author)

Books of these books are available on Amazon.com and although they may be a little older still contain excellent information.

A new very extensive and very expensive book is that by Heiko Bleher on the topic which you can see on his website: http://www.aquapress-bleher.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=251&Itemid=1

At 89 US$ it is expensive, but I am thinking about purchasing it.....

Whatever you do, be very careful with all the books from the US, such as those by Jack Wattley as they always have a heavy commercial angle and often have all sorts of half truths just to entice you into buying fish from them.

Hope my comments will be of some use.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Thank you, much appreciated. I had a look on Amazon and was overwhelmed with the choice of books. Having collected a good number of fishkeeping books over the years I've found that few realy stand out. The older publications seem more detailed and give sound advice. One of my favourites being "Advanced Aquarist Guide by Dr. Feroze Novroji Ghadially". One of topics explains his Circulating Range Filtration system that makes use of Daphnia to filter the water. Will make scans and post this section, it's quiet thought provoking.

Regards,
Riaan

 

Hi Riaan,

Just a further word of advice. Amazon is fantastic for seeing what is available, but it is well known that they are expensive. For the older books, you have no choice but to buy them from Amazon because you cannot get them elsewhere, but for the newer books, I would certainly try to contact the publishers directly as they may be cheaper.

Remember also that if you order books in this way, and they are delivered here, they will be subject to customs and VAT on arrival and this can be quite a shock on the expensive books. Perhaps an efficient book shop in SA may be more efficient in obtaining them and they will be able to give you a quote reflecting the full costs, so then you are not caught with a nasty surprise when the book arrives.

However, Amazon.com are efficient, one cannot fault them on that and books will be delivered rapidly from them.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

If the book is currently in print try www.take2.co.za

 

Also try loot.co.za. I've found them to be quite a bit cheaper than other places on occasion. But most of all just put the book title in google.co.za and select south african sites only. Also amazon.co.uk quite often works out cheaper with shipping than .com.

 

Hi Guys,

Although I posted this quite a while back, there are ongoing questions about discus and I believe that if you are seriously thinking of keeping discus, you need to purchase a reliable book or two, so here is my advice. There are many books available on discus, but most contain glossy pics and dubious information. These two I can recommend though.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

think you forgot to add which 2?

thanks
W

 

As mentioned by Prof in his first reply:

 

what about Penang Discus by Shaifullah Yeng, seems to be one of thee most recommended books worldwide by hobbyists