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Discus Need their Own Tank

Posted in Fish care pointers, Pet Food choices | May 14th, 2011

As an old aquarium owner, fish owners make a common mistake putting a variety of fish in their new tanks. You certainly can do that, but it is not the natural habitat of fish like the discus. With a few pointers, you can have a tank full of flourishing discus.

These beautiful fish form shoals. Fish schools are where the fish stay together for protection. Fish shoals are a loosely formed group of fish and with discus there is usually an alpha male. The largest shoal you want is 5 or 6 fish. Discus grow quickly and each fish will need at least 10 gallons, which is a big tank. For 5 fish that is a 50 gallon tank. Colorful fish, you can create a shoal of different color varieties of discus.

These fish need to own their own tank or be the largest group of fish in the tank. There are other fish that can share their habitat and add variety to the tank. Examples of other fish that can successfully live with discus are cardinal tetras and rummy nose tetras, shown here.

The tank should have 82 to 84 degree F temperature, around neutral pH and low to moderate hardness. The discus can survive in the 70s but the 80s are the best and a major element to successful discus-keeping. By the way, the tetras share the same water environment.

Discus do best in water that has a hardness well below 10 and acidic (pH 6.5 or lower) water. If you cannot match this with local water or treatment, you will find your fish short-lived.

Discus are bottom feeding fish. They will ‘puff’ at the food and when it floats up, grab it. They should not have to compete with other fish for food. The tetras do not compete with the discus.

Discus do well with a variety of dry and frozen foods and an occasional treat of live black worms. The fish thrive on frozen blood worms, any cichlid diet along with dry pellets.

That’s a start for your discus tank. These fish make a showy, beautiful serene display. Taking good care of them ensures years of enjoyment.