Ten Tips For Caring For Your Discus Fish

by Sarah Munn

Discus fish are some of the most beautiful tropical fish, but keeping them can be challenging. Their environment is extremely important for these reactive fish. There are several key tips you can follow to keep Discus happy and healthy.

1. The first tip in caring for Discus fish is to keep a clean tank. These fish are extremely sensitive to disease and water conditions. Since Discus do not tolerate water quality changes well and a smaller tank is more likely to fluctuate its pH levels, a 40 gallon tank is probably the smallest sized tank for them.

2. Tip number two is to remember to quarantine new fish before placing them into your tank. A new fish could introduce bacteria, parasites, or disease into the tank. Keep the new fish in a separate tank for two to three weeks. If by the end of that time period they are not showing signs of ill health it is safe to place them in with your existing fish.

3. Tip number three is to regulate the temperature of the water. Discus are a tropical fish. They thrive in water temperatures at around 84 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a heater in your tank will keep the water in the perfect temperature range for your fish.

4. Understanding the kind of environment that Discus fish like is tip number four. The body of a Discus fish is perfectly designed for swimming through foliage. In the wild, Discus are often found hiding under logs, rocks, plants, or other sheltered spots. Supply plenty of places in your tank for Discus to hide.

5. Another tip to care for Discus is feeding them the right kinds of food. Discus love to dine on live foods like worms, bloodworms, daphnia, or brine shrimp. Unfortunately, sometimes these foods can carry bacteria and parasites so be careful.

6. Tip number six goes right along with the last tip; the feeding process itself. Discus are a very reactive fish. They will react to your presence in the room, things on TV, or they even may tap on the glass at your approach before feeding time. Take notice of their feeding habits on a regular basis. If they are not eating, there is something wrong. Do not overfeed them. This can pollute the tank and overeating can cause the fish stress.

7. Another more obvious tip to caring for Discus is to supply your tank with a good filter. Just because it's obvious doesn't mean it should be overlooked. An overhead filter is easy to clean and is good for a community tank. Use a filter that eliminates heavy metals and chlorine from the water but won't change the pH level.

8. Tip number eight is to place your tank in a good location. It should be in a quiet place without a lot of activity. Even shadows or vibrations caused by people walking past the tank or opening or closing doors nearby can make fish jumpy.

9. Overhead lighting is tip number nine. By positioning lights overhead will cut down the on the shadows that might frighten the fish. The fish feel more secure since you can see them but, they cannot see you.

10. When caring for Discus fish, remember to include weekly water changes. They require at least twenty to thirty percent of the water in the tank changed, but you shouldn't change a large amount of water from the tank at once because it will stress these fish out. Like mentioned before, the quality of the water is very important to Discus fish. Changing too much water at one time will fluctuate the quality too much.

Discus fish are a species that requires a lot of care but by following these simple tips you can ensure that you fish will flourish for years to come!

About the Author

Sarah Munn is a contributing writer for http://www.discusfishcenter.com, a popular resource on how to setup and maintain a healthy discus aquarium.