Also, while on the forum check out the buy and sell board to see if there are any for sale by members. See the Discus Care Sheet on the forum for more details on keeping them. Does it appear lethargic? These are indicators of a weak fish or one that may be sick or overly stressed.įor tips and information on growing out juveniles, check out this thread on the forum that is loaded with info: Growing Out Juvenile Discus Does this fish interact with others or stay in the corner of the tank? Is its coloring very dark. Other good signs: Over all watch for good breathing rates, gill movement and body language, and stress/mood bars.Thin fins can indicate poor nutrition and frayed fins can indicate disease. Fins: Fins should protrude out of the body and curve around in an almost semi circle shape.Forehead: They should have a circular shaped forehead.Eyes that are chipped usually describe a fish with compromised genetics and or inbreeding.Not to say that this fish is ill, and its totally acceptable if you do not want to breed them. Eyes that are not in proportion to the body size is a good indicator of stunted growth. Buy healthy specimens from a reputable supplier or breeder.Some general tips and what to look for when buying new fish: (credit CapeKate, Nicole and Armadillo on the forum) However, there is much to be said for bare bottom tanks (in my opinion) because they make controlling the water parameters that much easier. In my opinion if you put in the extra time and effort to throughly vacuum your gravel the look in the tank is very appealing. Others believe in a bare bottom tank to limit nutrient buildup.
Some owners will not use gravel for fear of poor water quality due to dissolved organics and waste buildup in the gravel or soil. Using gravel in the tank is a contested issue. The advantages of a planted tank are increased nitrate utilization, hiding places for the fish, and a pleasing decorated look. Vitamin enriched flakes and live, frozen and freeze dried fish foods can be given.Īs far as the tank setup goes, consider using live plants in the tank to help keep the water pristine and make a more natural looking environment. Many Discus keepers will only get the best available foods for this fish. Shop around and get recommendations from others for good places to buy them. If you're on the market to buy them, there are many online websites that specifically sell this fish. If you are interested in this fish, be prepared to spend some serious money on this one of a kind tropical fish. There are many color varieties of this cichlid to choose from with many more being introduced all the time. Discus fish can be kept in a wide range of hardness levels and it is when you are breeding them that the water hardness level will become more important. Stability in water conditions is the key to keeping them and trying to change water paremeters will do more harm than good. Check your water parameters often with a test kit, and be your own judge as to what is best.
Some owners do a twice weekly 40 percent water changes and others have done a once a week water change at 50 percent. Most successful fish keepers house them in a species only tank because of the high water temperature requirement.įrequent water changes daily or every other day of around 25 percent seems to be a popular option with Discus keepers. They require excellent water conditions, frequent water changes and higher water temperatures than most other tropical fish. Perhaps the most beautiful of all tropical fish, the Discus is also one of the more difficult fish to keep and is not recommended for beginners. The Discus fish is known as the King of the Aquarium.