Frequently Asked Questions
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)
- $80 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 and freeze dried foods for the full lists. Our Calfornia freeze-dried blackworm cubes are our top selling food item.
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 is the delivery/shipping process like once I submit my order?
A: Once your fish order has been prepared for shipment, we will coordinate your delivery with you via email and text. You will receive a tracking number by email. We package them with pure oxygen and pack them in insulated boxes. It is best to have someone home when the fish arrive, so that your package does not sit outside your door in the hot or cold weather.
Q. What is the lifespan of a discus fish?
A: The lifespan of a discus fish varies depending on the conditions they are kept in. Typically, you can expect a discus fish to live around 10 years under the right conditions. However, it is not unusual for a discus fish to live up to 15 years.
Q. What kind of guarantee do you offer on your fish?
A: We can guarantee that your fish will arrive healthy up to 1 hour after they have been delivered. If any of your fish arrive dead on arrival you must send us a picture of the fish in the unopened bag within 1 hour of receiving the delivery. We will then issue you a STORE CREDIT toward your next order for the cost of the fish. We cannot guarantee the fish once the bag has been opened. Also, we cannot issue refunds on shipping costs. We work very hard to make sure that you receive your fish alive and we want your fish to have a long, happy life in your tank. ALl sales are final and we DO NOT issue Refunds- only Store Credit.
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.
