Frequently Asked Questions
Q. May I receive actual photos of the fish I’m purchasing?
A: Yes -- each specific photo you'd like will cost $20. Taking photos requires time. Our time is extremely valuable, and we will charge for it. We are the #1 discus seller by volume in the world. Our product photos are extremely accurate and representative of actual fish received. Please refer to our customer review photos found on the bottom of each fish on its description page, or check out our customer review section.
Q. The discus I just received from you have frayed fins and slight exterior damage. Did you ship me defective or sick fish?
A: No, what you are describing is normal wear and tear from the shipping process. With a bit of Paraguard and a good diet, your fish will fully heal from their transit scars within a week. Remember to keep the tank covered for the first 48 hours and temps on the high side (86-88F) for setups without tankmates/plants and (83-84F) for planted/tankmate setups.
Q. What are ideal conditions to keep discus and angel fish?
A: It is preferred for discus to keep temperature anywhere from 82 to 86 , ph 5.5 to 7.5 with frequent water changes, as frequent as possible . For young ones it is better to have water changes up to 5 times a week, this will keep them happy and healthy. Change about 30 to 70 % until they get 3 to 4 inches with conditioners added.
Angels prefer 78 to 82 , ph 5.9 to 7.5. with good amount of oxygen. Angels do not require frequent water changes maybe once or twice in ten days; it all depends on the size of the aquarium, number of fish and filtering system you use.
Q. What are your shipping costs?
- $100 UPS Overnight (to your door)
- $70 via Delta/Southwest Cargo, airport pickup
Q. What do you feed your discus?
A: We sell everything we feed our own fish. Check out our food section for the full list.
Q. What do you feed your fish? I want to replicate your conditions when I receive my discus from you.
A. Everything we feed our fish we make available for sale in our food section. Take a look at our "discus buffet" here.
Q. What water parameters are your fish kept at in your facility?
A: Our fish are kept in 6.8 pH (New York City tap) water, 88F (bare-bottom tanks only), and 50 TDS (hardness). If your discus are co-housed with plants or tank mates, these parameters may be adjusted accordingly. For planted aquariums, especially those containing fragile plants, we recommend a temperature no higher than 83F. For aquariums containing hardier plants such as swords and anubias, 84-85F would be reasonable.
Q. Where is your store located?
A: We have a small showroom in New York City by appointment only. However, due to our strict sanitation and quality control requirements, customers are typically not allowed in our facility. We are predominantly a mail-order company only.
Q. Where may I see your Return Policy?
A: All of our terms and conditions are outlined here. Every customer must agree to abide by our policy before they may submit an order.
Q. Why do the 2-inch discus I received not look like the product photos you have on your website?
A: It is not reasonable to expect baby or juvenile fish to resemble exact replicas of the parents -- they require time to grow into their final patterns and colors. If you want what's exactly pictured on the website, you need to order adult fish. See our customer review gallery for actual examples of the fish you will actually receive, in various sizes. In addition, when fish are first received, variables such as stress, pH, diet, temperature, and substrate color (no black or dark colors!) will have an impact on coloration. Also keep in mind that most of our photos are taken out of water.
