With their huge, round bodies and vibrant colors, discus fish are among the most visually appealing freshwater fish kept as a pet. Because of their tough maintenance, Internet forums frequently advise stringent measures, such as daily 100% water changes. The truth is that most people can’t keep to such strict regulations and those who can opt for easier ways to get things done. For a long time, we took great pride in maintaining discus fish in our home aquarium and our fish store and assisting customers who wanted to know how to keep them. Based on our experiences, this care guide will be a helpful resource for those just getting their feet wet with discus tanks.
How Hot Should I Keep My Discus Fish?
Keeping discus in good spirits is as simple as increasing the water temperature. A temperature range of 85 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect. This is because the discus Fish farms from whence we acquire them often maintain their water at these temperatures, and attempting to chill them down causes them agony. Your discus will be more active, have a higher metabolism, grow taller, and display better colours if you keep the temperature high. Therefore, be prepared to alter your usual fish-keeping practices to care for discus properly.
Environmental factors such as water hardness and pH should also be considered. Given the importance of this element for many individuals, the recommended pH can spark controversy. We have found that discus, whether wild-caught or reared in captivity, thrive in environments with a pH of 6.8 to 7.6. The same applies to water hardness; discus is usually good with gentle to medium hardness. We have yet to keep discus of German breeding, but they supposedly do well in waters with a higher pH and more difficult conditions. While a lower pH and water hardness are necessary for breeding and rearing discus fry, these water characteristics are less crucial for keeping them for leisure.
Which Aquarium Size Is Appropriate for Discus?
Our recommendation is a 75-gallon tank, but bigger is better in every case. A 55-gallon tank is doable, but frequent water changes will be necessary. Remember that these fish can grow rather large, with a typical diameter of 5 to 7 inches when cared for correctly. Heating the tank also increases their metabolic rate, so you’ll have to feed them more often and produce more waste. (That is the rationale for the common advice to change the water so usually.)
Keeping one discus Fish is a common question from our consumers. In a technical sense, the response is OK. For example, dogs are essentially pack animals, yet many people maintain just one and leave them home all day alone. No, it’s not perfect, but it’s manageable. With discus, it’s the same story.
On the other hand, being schooling fish, they thrive in big schools of their species. Furthermore, these cichlids may aggressively pursue one another without a large enough group. To lessen the impact of this territorial hostility, stock up on 10 or 12 juveniles for your 75-gallon tank at once. (You want them to be nearly the same size so that no one gets outcompeted for food.) You can return the noisy males to the fish store after they reach a certain size. At the end of the process, you should have a tranquil community of six adult discus fish, most of which will be female, with perhaps one or two males.
When it comes to tank setup, you can use a planted tank for them. Just be sure to choose plants like Anubis, java fern, bacopa, sword plants, and micro swords that can withstand high temperatures. Since oxygen in the water diminishes as the water temperature rises, we also suggest adding air stones. An air stone can help reduce the risk of low oxygen levels in hotter-than-usual summer weather.
Also Read: Preserving Lifelines: Understanding the Importance of Rivers
Are Daily Water Changes Necessary for Discus?
In the end, it is subjective. Keep in mind that flushing out waste is why you should do water changes. So, it’s up to the individual aquarium to determine how often and how much water needs changing. The amount of biological filtration (such as beneficial bacteria and live plants), the size of your tank, the number of fish you have, and the amount you feed them are all factors to think about. The basic rule of thumb is that planted tanks should have nitrate levels below 40 ppm and non-planted tanks should have levels below 20 ppm.
Get an aquarium water test kit and use our free infographic as a step-by-step guide to determine how frequently you should replace the water in your tank.
Is it Safe to Keep Discus With Other Fish?
The ability to withstand high temperatures and the inability to outcompete the discus Fish for food are requirements for tank mates. Since discus are typically sluggish eaters, they will likely lose out in a feeding competition with more active, bullet-shaped fish, such as barbs or large schools of tetras. Clown loaches, angelfish, and German blue rams are just a few examples of hot water fish that can outrun them.
Instead, consider keeping them as the showpiece fish in an aquarium designed specifically for discus. When you see that they are eating well, you can slowly introduce other fish species like bristle nose plecos, Sterbai cory catfish, or cardinal tetras. Keep in mind that discus may go hungry if you add too many tank mates.
How Do You Recommend I Feed My Discus Fish?
Most people don’t realize that discus Fish mouths are tiny, so they give them items that are much too big. This means that the portion size can be an issue if you observe them chewing the meal, spitting it out, and mouthing it again.
The slim profile of frozen bloodworms makes them ideal for slurping, but discus Fish can develop a serious addiction to them in no time. Feed them a diverse array of little foods to ensure they get all the nutrients they require. Hikari Discus Bio-Gold, Sera Discus Granules, Tetra Discus Granules, and Hikari Vibra Bites are some prepared foods that have worked well for us. You can also try brine shrimp, frozen or fresh, blackworms, fresh or freeze-dried, or microworms.
Why Is the Price of Discus Fish So High?
As we mentioned earlier, perfect tank conditions are required for spawning and rearing fry. Because discus takes longer to mature than guppies or other less expensive fish, raising them is a labour- and time-intensive ordeal. You can buy discus from local breeders, fish stores, or even online, but if you’ve never kept discus before, our best advice is to stay away from the price extremes. Avoid the $300 grownups that might perish because of your inexperience and the cheapest ones that might have quality flaws. Buying a set of them that are uniform in size will help keep them from being bullied.
What is the Best Way to Give Discus Fish a Happy Life?
Stress reduction should be your primary goal in using this care guide. Raise the temperature, maintain clean and consistent water, and feed them properly. Keep children away from the glass and reduce foot traffic around their tank. Also, put their aquarium away from the TV with loud noises and flashing lights. Improving these timid animals’ sense of security in any manner can significantly impact their well-being.
Last but not least, take steps to alleviate your stress! Many new discus owners are too preoccupied with the possibility of injuring their pets to take the time to enjoy their stunning beauty. If you follow these easy steps, you should have a discus tank you want for a long time.
