how to keep red discus red?

[skoom]

Red melons in shops look great, but it seems difficult to keep them looking like that once i take them home.

are these fish fed colour additives before they are put on display in shops?

if so, what is it? i've heard hormones are no good for fish. what are your opinions?

i've tried colourbits but this only seems to make my red melons orange, and they lose their white faces.

any hints?

[Proteus]

A lot of it comes down to lighting. (in stores anyway)

A good aquarium light tube can make a lot of difference.

I am not aware of any stores using hormones that I associate myself with.

I personally use Colorbits, and BH laced with Astaxanthin.

[Mattzilla]

feed beefheart with astaxanthin, paprika, spirulina etc

all good colour enhancers

i have also heard that prawns and carrots are good for enhancing colour due to their natural carotines

all have all the ingedients in my beefheart mix and my discus show brilliant colours

matt

[skoom]

yeah i've wacked in the prawns and carrots and colourbits into the beef heart mix. They like the food and all seem healthy. breeding like bunnies at the moment...

I can't complain much about overall colours, but they just end up orange, and not the white faced red melon. You see, i buy a red melon home only to end up with a marlboro red.... just a little disappointing. =(

what is astaxanthin?

so anyone tried a different feeding routine other than colorbits? they just make my pigeon strain fish orange.

[Ben]

http://www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3581

what is astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is a antioxidant, colour ehancer. Primary used in aquaculture.
mostly used to make salmon that more appealing red colour.

http://www.aquaria.com.au/catalog/pr...oducts_id/5069

HTH


Ben

[skoom]

thanks ben.

the site is out of stock...any other sources?

[Ben]

lol, i have been trying to get my hands on some aswell. I sent them an email and they will not be getting the product any time soon.

I have been making up a beef heart mix and incorparating fresh whole scallops with the roe on.
This seems to high light some of the red colour.

If i can get my hands on some i will let you know,
cheers,
Ben

[mistakes r crucial]

If you can find a local aquaculture supply store you will be able to buy prawn starter pellets which are laced with Astaxanthin. The last time I bought some it cost me $54 for 25kg, cheap as! I just crush it to a dust and add it the my BH mix.
MAC

[mtchye]

You could also use spirulina powder and paprika powder in your BH mix. I use it and the fish do turn red, unfortunately your yellow fish turn orange too, and your white fish tinge with yellow lol

[Ben]

Thats a great little tip Mac, thanks for sharing.
cheers,
Ben