Basic Discus Fish Care

Are you thinking about getting some discus then and want to know a little about them. Have you been to the aquatics and seen some lovely colourful discus in there show tanks.
A lot of people will tell you that discus are only for advanced fish keepers but in my experience they are easy to keep as long as you follow some basic rules.

First of all, discus require clean water free of chlorine and heavy metals. You may be best to invest in a water purifying unit. Make sure the water is on the soft and acidic side. pH between 6.0 and 7.5 with a general hardness between 5 and 15. Now is you want to been them these will have to be lower.

The water should be well filtered but slow moving and be heated at around 82 – 86F.

Another point to cover is that discus are best suited to large deep aquariums as they commonly grow to around 6 or 7 inch. They prefer to be in shoals of no less than 6 when they are growing up.

They can be kept in bare tanks but benefit from bog wood and plants as these help the discus feel safe knowing they have some where to hide. If they get stressed and scared in a bare tank they can dash around and damage there selves.

Ideal tank mates for discus include small tetras from South America i.e. neon tetras. They are also ok with various cat fish and plecs but please make sure the discus is the largest fish in the aquarium.

Discus can be fed on most aquarium foods and practically like sinking pellets. They also like frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp. Young discus should be fed 3 times a day and adults just once.
Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - Wild Caught Discus Fish

Wild caught discus fish first appeared in the 1920s and, even now, despite the large number bred in aquariums they are still very much in demand. Though difficult to care for, wild caught discus fish are a rarity that come to inhabit collectors' special show tanks. In their natural environment, wild caught discus fish prefer the calm parts of rivers, lakes and deep pools where they spend their time in shaded area clean from pollutants. This is why it is essential to recreate the same conditions in captivity too. Wild caught discus fish are the real kings of the Amazon area and make great valuable treasure in aquariums.

Before buying wild caught discus fish of your own, it is good to document yourself as much as possible about the great challenges their breeding involves. There are quite a large number of books written on how to look after wild caught discus fish; you can even enjoy some very impressive photos meant to illustrate the variety in the natural habitat with all their strips and colors perfectly matched in the clear water. Issues such as water filtration and the acclimation of the wild caught discus fish are essential for a successful experiment, particularly since it may cost you a little fortune.

Moreover, in case you are really interested in enriching your colony with some wild caught discus fish it is a good idea to get all the necessary information required to the specimens' origin, transportation and health condition. Before actually buying wild caught discus fish make sure they are in good shape and have been treated well along the long journey. You may even rely on some professional advice to check the health status, particularly since wild caught discus fish come pretty expensive and you need to know what you pay the money for.

Mention should be made that wild caught discus fish are very photo sensitive. Actually, they are caught with the help of powerful light sources that blind and confuse them. Therefore, when you try to create a proper environment for the wild caught discus fish you will have to keep in mind that their native waters are shady and a little dark. Therefore, the use of powerful lamps around the discus tank is totally unadvisable. Strictly respect such measures if you truly want to make a good home for the wild caught discus fish. Enjoy them!

Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - About Discus Fish

With a compressed rounded body shape and gorgeous colors of green, red, brown and blue, discus fish are among the most popular aquarium freshwater fish in the world. Native from the Amazon River, discuss fish are spread all over the world being part of true industries in Asia, for instance. When they reach adulthood, discuss fish are no larger than eight to ten inches and they make great pets, bringing a drop of lively color to your house. Make sure you know everything about the needs of this fish breed, though discus fish are not very fragile, they still require a lot of care.

Discus fish make great aquarium inhabitants and they can be combined with other species in the habitat, the best choices would be the tetras or the uaru species. Generally discus fish are very peaceful creatures; they are a bit sensitive to stress and a disturbing environment. However it is not too great an idea to combine them with fish that are a lot smaller, as the discus fish may eat them. It is totally unadvisable to combine catfish with any variety of discus fish since the former may eat the latter. Like all aquarium creatures, discus fish require optimal living conditions; otherwise they are exposed to disease and may die.

As the natural water temperature the discus fish are used to, is around 26-31 degrees Celsius, you will have to recreate and maintain the same conditions. Furthermore, in the wild, the environment discus fish live in is slightly acid, so make sure you adjust the pH values to such coordinates, between 5.5 and 6.5 the pH is completely friendly to your pets. If the discus fish were bred in captivity they may just as well adapt to higher pH values, but not during the mating season when you really have to provide optimal conditions.

Keep in mind that discus fish are very clean animals, and the water you put in their tank has to be really clean, without the slightest trace of pollution. You need to use a high capacity filter to cycle the water continuously. There are plenty of information sources to learn more on discus fish and their breeding; such a reliable site is Discus Fish Secrets that will definitely assist you in satisfying the needs of your discus fish. Always stay informed on feeding and breeding habits of your friends, as you're thus watching over their health.

Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Disease Risks

Native from the Amazon River, yet successfully bred all over the world in aquariums, discus fish are not too fragile or sensitive creatures. However, all breeders should be aware of the risks of discus fish disease, as they are often exposed to various health problems because of improper care conditions. Saying that breeders are most often the ones responsible for the discus fish diseases doesn't mean we're pointing the finger, this is the truth. Improper care, poor or inadequate living conditions, co-inhabitance with other breeds are usually responsible for the various discus fish diseases.

The most common discus fish diseases are the ones common to fresh water fish in general. For instance the ammonia poisoning is a discus fish disease that appears because of improper nitrogen cycle in your aquarium. Don't add tropical fish in the water until the ammonia has been eliminated in the water, and maybe the filters don't function properly. In order to avoid this discus fish disease, change the water regularly and avoid over-crowding the tank. The symptoms of this discus fish disease include red and swollen gills and the fish staying at the water surface gasping for air.

Another discus fish disease that results from poor water quality is the Ich or the white spot characterized by the appearance of white spots on the fish body and fins. The best way to fight this discus fish disease is by increasing the water temperature and administrating medication available in any pet store. Before adding the medication for this type of discus fish disease, take the carbon filter out as this may absorb all the useful substances. In case you want to bring other fish to the tank, make sure you use a quarantine aquarium in order to prevent any discus fish disease.

If the water temperature is not appropriate you expose your pets to another discus fish disease such as the oxygen starvation. A higher water temperature also requires an increased level of oxygen in the water. Therefore, you can easily avoid this discus fish disease by taking care of the aeration level, speeding up the flow rate of the filters. You may want to turn off the tank light for a while, as this also causes temperature to rise and exposes the fish to the risk of the oxygen starvation discus fish disease. All in all, keep in mind that the proper temperature for the discus fish is 31 degrees Celsius at the maximum.

Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care

Much to the surprise of many tropic fish owners, discus fish care has revealed special features specific to this breed that makes it stand apart. Therefore, when you design your aquarium make sure you plan the discus fish care area properly. They make great friends and pets; as you will find out, discus fish respond to you and have a social and bonding behavior unparalleled by other breed. When you make discus fish care a hobby, you'll see they react in the most pleasant of ways, watching you moving around the room or even eating out of your hand. No wonder people love them.

Considered the pride of any fish breeder, discus fish and their care raise a few issues, though not to complex I dare say. When you plan your aquarium it is really important to set up its purpose: is it going to be a family show tank or can the discus fish use it for breeding? Discus fish care is not painstaking at all; on the contrary, it brings immense satisfaction. For instance the family habits you notice during discus fish care moments will stress out the active role the male discus takes in the raising of their fry.

Keep in mind the fact that these fish are extremely clean and they like pure water all the time. Therefore, a special part of the discus fish care should focus on keeping a close watch on water recycling, temperature and the oxygen level. In order to avoid various diseases due to improper discus fish care make sure all the living parameters are within the normal values. For instance, good discus fish care means the water is at a temperature of 31 degrees Celsius at the maximum; if it gets warmer the level of oxygen drops and you'll be confronted to oxygen starvation.

Another aspect of discus fish care is the establishing of colonies of nitrifying bacteria in the filter. This is essential since no discus fish care measures allow you to put the fish in a tank without these bacteria. They are responsible for keeping the ammonia and the nitrites under control by consuming the fish waste as food. Therefore, you may choose several nitrification methods in the process of discus fish care, the most important being the type of filter you decide to use. Plants also contribute to reducing the amount of toxic substances in the water, but you will still have to change it on a regular basis.
Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - Facts About Discus Health

The most popular concerns about discus fish are those related to their health since they are know for being very sensitive to environmental conditions. It is essential for discus health that you recreate the living conditions they are used to in the wild: soft, slightly acidic clean water. Of course breeders do everything in their power to protect discus health given the fact that they also require special temperature and pH. Therefore if you plan on buying discus fish, you should start preparing their tank a month in advance to make sure you ensure discus health.

There are many problems associated with discus health, but I will mainly refer to the environmental ones, which seem to be the most common. For instance, the iodine deficiency may appear due to pollutants in water or improper feeding. Then, another problem related to discus health is the lack of vitamins in the food, which on the long term may create low immune system and deficient wound healing for instance. Vitamin C is essential for discus health; hence make sure you store food properly or you risk losing this vitamin though oxidation. Absence of this vitamin leads to bleeding, fin ulcerations and many other problems.

Many of the discus health problems appear because of breeder's ignorance or failure to provide the proper living conditions. Once you take up breeding fish, there is a responsibility involved like with any other animal; should you find yourself overwhelmed, you can always turn to special discus health services provided by vet units. Information and tips you may find in books on discus health or on sites such as Discus Fish Secrets are highly reliable and make a very good start when in comes to taking care of discus health. The authors of such books are usually experienced breeders from whom you've got lots to learn.

Discus health should not be an issue for someone careful enough to follow some ground rules. For instance, the water cycle should be functional all the time and no waste or uneaten food should be left in it. Discus health is threatened in case of over-heating. Don't go over 31 degrees Celsius, as this will also lower the oxygen level in the tank and cause your fish to suffer from oxygen starvation. Monitor your discus health on a regular basis and check the living conditions daily or even several times a day if possible so that nothing goes wrong.
Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - How to setup a discus aquarium?

Every once in a while, I get questions about creating the proper environment for discus fish. It involves a certain amount of work and documentation for achieving the best living conditions this exotic fish needs.

The very first question you need to answer about your discus aquarium refers to the tank size. This will depend on the size of the room you've got at home and your financial resources.

If possible put these discus guys in a deep tank as these little creatures feel better in lots of water, not to mention that the more the water, the more stable the conditions. An ideal size of a discus aquarium should be at least 120 cm x 40 cm x 50 cm.

Remember the discus fish feels shy when it doesn't trust the surroundings. Keep the discus aquarium away from any noise or direct heat and light sources.

When you keep it in excess heat the plants overgrow and discus suffers due to lack of oxygen. One more thing, you shouldn't be causing them any undue stress as I said they are shy creatures If possible put the aquarium somewhere on a higher shelf as these fish are disturbed by movement. The stratum you place on the bottom for a discus aquarium is very important.

In case you create the discus aquarium to show off to your friends and family then fine gravel is great to place on the bottom of your tank, but if you are like me and use it only for breeding then leave the bottom uncovered. Thus, the discus aquarium is easier to clean as you don't have to disturb the fish during the mating period.

When it comes to plants to put in your discus aquarium, I suggest you go for the natural ones the artificial ones may look good but guess what? they won't do any good to the fish. I think you can even order the plant selection for your discus aquarium by mail and have it delivered at home.

I know many people are concerned about the aesthetic dimension of their discus aquarium If you feel the same way you may choose rocks and driftwood as decorations. Such items are close to the discus fish native waters where they mainly serve as shelter. Before you put those rocks make sure they don't have any metal ore or other contaminants.

I recommend, you use the rocks that are of the same color and texture though you may use different ones to bring diversity for your discus aquarium. Similar texture prevents functionality problems particularly when the rocks have the same provenience, You will have to sacrifice on good looks sometimes if you really care about the health of your pets.

Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - Why growing discus can be very interesting?

I'm astonished to find the growing popularity of discus as a hobby for many people all over the world. Just as dogs make great companions discus fish make a great show. Aquariums all over the world have become the home of this king of the exotic species.

You should see the expression on the breeder's face when they manage to get some baby discus. They are immensely satisfied because what started as a hobby is now boring fruits and not only that discus are also unique in their social and loving behavior.

If you ask people who breed discus as a hobby they will tell you about discus showing signs of connection to the environment outside the tank. These guys who have discus as a hobby spend a lot of time around the tank, cleaning, feeding or simply watching the discus.

Like Dogs, they can recognize their owners in time and they can get as close to you as to eat out of your hand. When breeding discus as a hobby, some owners report that discus watch them when they are moving around the room.

Most of the time, discus enjoy silence and a close community with other fellows from the same species. If you take discus as a hobby, you may want to take into consideration that they prefer living in close communities that is together with several other members. The dominant discus would be the first to couple, followed by the others if proper conditions are met. You have to separate the couples in a different tank when they are raising their fry even if you breed discus as a hobby.

For anyone that takes discus as a hobby, it is important that all the proper living conditions are kept under constant observation. Using powerful lamps may overheat the water and should be avoided at all costs instead you can use spot lights if you have discus as a hobby,. There is not much difference between breeding discus as a hobby and breeding them at a professional level, after all, discus require the same attention no matter your devotion. You have to be watchful and take good care of your pets even if you take discus as a hobby.

Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - What breeders need to know about discus care?

Breeding exotic fish can be an interesting activity and it is also a hobby for many people around the world. Whoever breeds exotic fish needs special information on discus care, since discus fish are generally considered very sensitive creatures. The major focus of discus care should be on creating the most proper living environment in a well proportionate water tank. Discus fish love deep water, so make sure the aquarium you are going to use is proper for the discus group you want to colonize. Normally discus care does not involve any out of common issues; all the breeder needs is to preserve the correct water parameters necessary for healthy living conditions. Otherwise, there shouldn't be any problems.

Take for example an important element in discus care is the weekly water change; however, since the discus don't like changes, only 25% of the tank volume should be freshened. Likewise, for special discus care try to use a filter that eliminates the heavy metals and the chlorine without altering the water pH. Keep in mind that a larger water volume is easier to preserve stable as compared to a small tank for instance; therefore, discus care should include this aspect too. When you feed the fish on beef-heart make sure that you clean all the leftovers as these will contaminate the water.

On the other hand where you have a separate tank with fry, special discus care is required here. The reasons are simple, you feed them more and the water quality lowers, therefore in the case of baby discus you need to change at least 30% of the water in the tank three times a week. Through discus care, uneaten food and waste are eliminated, In other words the more simple you keep the aquarium the higher the water quality. If you use lots of plants and decorations, there will be more discus care issues since they collect lots of dirt underneath. Likewise, avoid using them in baby discus or breeding tanks.

Special attention should be paid to situations that involved increased discus care measures. I'm talking about the breeding period or in case there is some kind of disease that is affecting your fish.

Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - Important facts about discus fish care

When you design your aquarium, make sure you plan the discus fish care area properly because much to the surprise of many tropic fish owners, discus fish care has revealed special features specific to this breed that makes it stand apart. Discus fish make great friends and pets; as you will find out, discus fish respond to you and have a social and bonding behavior unparalleled by other breed. When you make discus fish care a hobby, you'll see they react in the most pleasant ways, watching you moving around the room or even eating out of your hand. No wonder people love them.

Fish breeders are proud to own discus, but discus care raise a few issues, though not too complex I dare say. When you plan your aquarium You should ask yourself this question Is it going to be a family show tank or can the discus fish use it for breeding? Discus fish care is not difficult at all; on the contrary, it brings immense satisfaction. For instance You can see the active role played by the male discus when raising their fry.

Keep in mind the fact that these fish are extremely clean and they like pure water all the time. Therefore, a special part of the discus fish care should focus on keeping a close watch on water recycling, temperature and the oxygen level. Make sure all the living parameters are within the limit in order to avoid various diseases. The maximum temperature of water should be 31 degrees Celsius; if it gets warmer the level of oxygen drops and you'll be confronted to oxygen starvation.

Establishing colonies of nitrifying bacteria in the filter is a major aspect of discus care filter. This is essential since no discus fish care measures allow you to put the fish in a tank without these bacteria. These microbes are responsible for keeping the ammonia and the nitrites under check by consuming the fish waste as food.

Plants also contribute to reducing the amount of toxic substances in the water, but you will still have to change it on a regular basis.

You may choose several nitrification methods in the process of discus fish care, the most important being the type of filter you decide to use.

Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - Where to find discus fish for sale?

We find more and more People offering discus fish for sale. One needs to dig deeper in order to find the best deals. There are professional breeders that that use selection methods and great technologies in order to offer high quality discus fish for sale. There are certain things we need to consider when the discus fish for sale are already coupled. These are the most crucial factors, as it is considered pretty difficult to mate discus fish. One might think that its a false myth, but it is a fact that couple discus fish for sale come for at least a few hundred dollars.

Therefore who should you approach in order to find discus fish for sale? If there is no authorized breeder in your area, you should try looking for private owners who have successfully mated their pets and consequently may have some discuss fish for sale.

Before you buy them talk to the breeder, have a look at the tank where they are kept in order to ensure that the discus fish for sale is in a healthy condition. If you are not sure you may ask a vet to see the discus fish for sale.

Sometimes, you may be yourself in the position to offer discus fish for sale. Once you've successfully coupled some of your pets you need to isolate the fry in a different tank and feed it chopped worms and special food until they reach maturity. It depends on your willingness to offer discus fish for sale because some people like to keep all the fry with them they love them so much. If that is you remember the parents you mated in the first place could be on the way to having another round of baby fish for you.

Due care should be taken to ensure water cleanliness and for providing hygienic food to raise the fry to a maturity level where the discus fish is ready for sale. The baby discus differs a lot from adult discus when it comes to behavior particularly with respect to the food. The babies are so greedy in their eagerness to grow, whereas the adults nibble at food and take their time before finishing a meal.

Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - Risks of your discus fish catching disease

Discus is bred in aquariums all over the world even though it originated in the Amazon River; discus fish are not too vulnerable to diseases. However, all breeders should be well-informed about the risks of discus fish disease, as they are often exposed to various health problems because of improper care conditions. As a matter of fact breeders are the ones responsible for discus fish diseases. Improper care, poor or inadequate living conditions, co-inhabitance with other breeds are usually responsible for the various discus fish diseases.

The most prevalent discus fish diseases are the ones common to fresh water fish in general. For instance the ammonia poisoning is a discus fish disease that appears because of improper nitrogen cycle in your aquarium. This may be due to adding tropical fish in the water before the ammonia has been eliminated or maybe the filters don't function properly. Change the water regularly and avoid over-crowding the tank in order to avoid this disease. If you notice red and swollen gills or the fish staying at the water surface gasping for air it might be due to this disease.

Ich is another common disease that is caused by poor water quality it is characterized by the appearance of white spots on the fish body and fins. The best way to fight this discus fish disease is by increasing the water temperature and administrating medication available in any pet store.

You can take the carbon filter out before adding the medication, as the filter might absorb useful substances. Make sure you have a quarantine aquarium in order to prevent any discus fish disease.

Oxygen starvation which is one of the discus fish diseases can be caused by inappropriate temperature of the water. A higher water temperature also requires an increased level of oxygen in the water. Therefore, you can easily avoid this discus fish disease by taking care of the aeration level, speeding up the flow rate of the filters. I recommend you turn off the tank light for a while, as this also causes temperature to rise and exposes the fish to the risk of the oxygen starvation discus fish disease. Always, keep in mind that the ideal temperature for the discus fish is 31 degrees Celsius at the maximum.


Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - Breeding Discus Fish Made Simple

Breeding Discus fishes has become truly an art form for many fish lovers. Such care is required during this process as they can be quite fastidious to breed, susceptible to disease and easily stressed if they are not kept under optimal conditions. Notwithstanding this, you will still find that most Discus fish are being bred in captivity and given the development of new technology, maintaining optimal water conditions has become much easier to sustain.

One of the most important factors to look out for when you are embarking on the breeding process is the chemistry of the water level. You want to test this as you need to achieve the right balance of chloramines, chlorine, pH and alkalinity before placing these fishes in the water. Having established the correct level of pH and alkalinity in your raw water, a simple colour test kit will determine the presence and concentration of either. You need to ensure that you keep your pH below 7 and above 5.5. The ideal pH for discus is 6. At pH levels above 7, discus are stressed. Below 5.5, the pH is inclined to plunge rapidly, so you will probably find that 6 to be comfortable for both the fish and the fish keeper.

Once the parents have spawned new eggs, you have a choice of either leaving them in the tank with the new fry hoping that they get it right. However, the eggs would be at risk of being eaten, so you may wish to invest some time in raising the new discus fish yourself. If you choose the latter, then remove the eggs after a few hours and place them into a smaller tank in some of the water from the main tank to maintain the same environment and water temperature that they were born in. Insert a little sponge filter or air stone to assist with the filtration process. To prevent egg fungus, it is recommended that you add a couple drops of methyl blue in the water and within around 48 hours the eggs should hatch. Within a further 72 hours they will eat their own yolk sacks and will be swimming freely.

Then you need to ensure that the correct diet is implemented - very little and often is the key, say, 4 or 5 times a day. They should be fed on liquid fry food and rotifers and then in a couple of days feed them on newly hatched brine shrimp and powder fish food.

Ensure that all large floating particles of uneaten food, fish waste, and plant waste is removed from the tank to sustain a pollutant free environment. 50% of the water should be changed every day, but make sure when doing so the same chemical environment is maintained as before, otherwise the new fish will become stressed.

After a fortnight, you will be able to move the new school of discus fish to a bigger tank, preferably using a container as a net so as not to cause them any stress or damage in the process. As they are such particular fishes, continue to feed them 4 times a day with a 50% daily water change and watch them flourish.


Discus Fish Care

Discus Fish Care - Feeding and Lighting Tips for Discus Fish

Discus Fish are often classified as difficult to care for. They can be creatures of habit and don't tolerate change well. However, they can

be kept by almost anybody with some knowledge and effort.

Feeding Discus Fish can be a challenge. They have no unique nutritional needs and can be raised on most high-protein fish food. However,

their cautious nature and reluctance to adapt to new foods and surroundings creates problems.

They have been known to go for weeks without eating before trying and accepting a new type of food.

Starving for a month or so will cause them to relent and accept a new food. This starvation period could slow or stunt the growth of the

young fish.

As a precaution ALWAYS ask what type of food they are accustomed to and have been eating. This information would go a long way

toward helping the fish to adapt more quickly to their new home.

You can always introduce new food at a later time by slowly mixing the new food with for familiar food and thereby weaning them from

the old while helping them to grow accustomed to the new diet.

While diet may be a problem to overcome lighting doesn't seem to be a problem. Although there is a popular opinion that bright lights

may bother them. However, others are of the opinion that Discus Fish are indifferent to lighting.

If you observe that your Discus Fish are hiding most of the time lighting may not be the problem it could be something else. Perhaps they

simply need more time to feel at ease in their new surroundings.

It is wise not to introduce new foods and new surroundings at the same time. Slow is always the best approach.

Remember Discus Fish are shy and sensitive to disturbance and lack of protection. They will add beautiful color to your aquarium and are

worth the nurturing.


Discus Fish Care