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