Discuss and Bloodworm

[Pleco Fan]

Firstly I am a virtual beginner with Discuss, about a year ago I bought six from a reputable online dealer, I travelled over to his warehouse to buy the fish direct, his breeding pairs were dazzling.
I purchased several blocks of beefheart and asked what other types of food to feed them on and he said bloodworm would be ok.
I have been feeding my Discuss bloodworms on a regular basis, out of the original six four grew so large that I have recently taken them to my local aquarium centre and swapped them for smaller Discuss.
Therefore is it a scientific fact about bloodworm causing digestive problems, am I just lucky that my Discuss have not had any problems, most retailers that I have spoken to say that they feed their Discuss on bloodworm, so at the end of the day I am still not certain about the actual facts, does it depend on what type of Discuss you have?
I think I have opened a can of worms so as to speak, but it has been a topic that concerns me, we all want whats best for our fish.

[plankton]

I can't remember what it is that happens with bloodworm.
@SnowAddict knows way more about discus than I do........

[MelBud29]

Ooh I’m interested in opinions about this too, it seems there are indeed mixed messages about the best food for discus out there.

Most research I’ve encountered talk about beefheart mixes being the ideal (even on the breeders and specialist retailer websites), but as per Stephen’s comments on my Cory/plec question, it seems like that may not actually be all that ideal?

[Stephen]

My reply in another thread.

Many successful breeders & exhibitors swear by beef heart, although the flesh of warm-blooded animals is fundamentally bad for fish and difficult to digest properly.
This type of feeding may enhance fish growth and colouration but it is totally unnatural.
Discus are mainly herbivores (plant eaters) and the stomach content found in dissected deceased wild discus contained detritus and plant matter, decapods, wood matter, bugs & crustacea. Also no fish meat was ever found in the stomach of a wild discus.

It is suggested to feed things such as spirulina, spinach, peas, other vegetables, brine shrimps, bloodworm and krill as they are more natural and easier for discus to digest.

[black ghost]

I agree with Stephen. Beef heart gives quick growth, but fish cannot digest mammalian fat (and there is fat present even in the leanest muscle), and it accumulates around the liver.

Bloodworms are a great fish food. My personal opinion is that it’s only bad quality (frozen) bloodworms that cause problems. If they’re the same bright red as they are in life they’ll be fine... if not, don’t buy them.