The Discus Book 2nd Edition: "Some of the Old Ways Are Still Always The Best"

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

This Second Edition of The Discus Book has been written and produced with updates and additional information since the first edition, written in 1989, to accommodate "some" of the questionable technology changes, regarding this species since the first edition of the Discus Book, when the Author successfully bred Wild Discus (symphysodon) in captivity, the recording of such work and events transcribed to the said printed book.

Alastair Agutter still remains one of a select few in the world today to accomplish such a feat, breeding wild symphysodon, and as a result of such endeavours by he, and other dedicated Aquarist colleagues, they managed to break a cycle and taboo that had lasted for more than 120 years, since the founding of the pastime we know as tropical fish keeping, after "The Great Exhibition" of 1851 and this being, to breed "The King of the Aquarium" in captivity.

This second edition of the book is concise and accurate, based on proven methods and techniques, to deliver the above results. The Discus, King of the Aquarium is a highly evolved species of the Cichlidae (tooth carp) Family and will challenge any Aquarist, even tank bred species. This book will not produce any quick fixes, or silver bullets to keeping symphysodon, whom are a very highly evolved sensitive species. But will provide the secrets to successfully keeping the species, if the valuable information found in this book is followed to the letter.

Natural Law teaches us to "evolve and refine" when studying quantum mechanics and natural branching, in other words stealth, efficiency and risk aversion. Such outcomes and results only ever come from following the covenant of Natural Law when one seeks "simplistic perfection" in all that we do!



CHAPTERS INSIDE THIS BOOK:

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONEALittle Background Discus and their NaturalEnvironmentand Origin of the Species

CHAPTER TWOThe Wild Discus Species

CHAPTER THREE The Importance of the Correct Aquarium

CHAPTER FOUR A Guide to Fish Food and Suitability for Discus

CHAPTER FIVEDiscus Prepared Super Foods and Recipes

CHAPTER SIXGrowing and Hatching Your Own Brine Shrimp

CHAPTER SEVENThe Requirements for Discus Fish Filtration

CHAPTER EIGHTThe Genetics and Different Strains of Discus Fish

CHAPTER NINEThe Lighting and Electrical Needs

CHAPTER TENCollecting and Purchasing the Correct Fish

CHAPTER ELEVENThe Correct Water Conditions and Techniques

CHAPTER TWELVEThe Spawning of Symphysodon

CHAPTER THIRTEENRearing and Raising Healthy Discus toAdulthood

CHAPTER FOURTEENThe Diseases and the Problems of the Species

CHAPTER FIFTEENAquarists Essential Reference Tables

CHAPTER SIXTEENAuthor's Concluding Points

Alastair Agutter is one of a select few world-wide to successfully breed the Discus (symphysodon) species King of the Aquarium in captivity and an authority on these tropical fish species and others, as an accomplished Best Selling Author of Specialist Books Internationally.

Alastair began keeping and breeding tropical fish as a hobbyist from the age of just 9 years back in 1967 (nearly 50 years ago) and has successfully bred many species. He was one of the very first Aquarists in the United Kingdom breeding cichlids from the Great Lakes (Malawi and Tanganyika) in the early and mid-nineteen-seventies.

His enthusiasm as a dedicated Aquarist continues today with a number of projects underway; including the development of new biological filtration systems (Polyatomic-ion Biological Reactors), to help improve the success survival rate for keeping thriving plants with tropical fish species. Other projects include breeding a number of endangered species including original strains of the symphysodon family and other smaller indigenous species native to South America mainly inhabiting the Great River Amazon.

Alastair also continues today designing and making his very own aquariums and equipment for his projects, and also endeavours to write more tropical fish hobbyist reference books as a freelance full-time author, in the interests of further serving the local and wider Community Internationally.