How do you take care of a discus fish tank?
Discus prefer warm, soft, acidic water. pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0, with hardness between 1° and 4° dKH (18 to 70 ppm). Temperature should be kept between 82° and 86° F, although wild Heckel discus prefer water near 90° F. Use an Aqueon Aquarium Heater to maintain proper water temperature.
Are discus fish hard to care for?
Discus fish are one of the most beautiful freshwater fish in the hobby, known for their spectacular colors and large, circular shape. However, they’re notorious for being extremely difficult to keep, with Internet forums often recommending strict practices like 100% water changes every day.
Do discus fish need a heater?
Since discus are tropical fish, they need a heater to keep their tank’s water in the correct temperature range. The heater ensures that your tank’s water will remain at a constant temperature throughout the day, regardless of whether your room cools down or heats up.
Can I have 1 discus?
Discus cichlids don’t like to be alone, but each fish needs at least ten gallons of water to survive; therefore, a pair of adult discus fish need, at minimum, a 20-gallon tank. A pair of young discus fish can thrive in a 15-gallon tank, but they will outgrow it as they mature.
What should I feed my discus?
Some of the best sources of vitamins for discus fish are crustaceans, vegetables, and algae. Bloodworms, which are actually the larval stage of the mosquito are a very popular food type for discus fish. Bloodworms are rich in protein and can be administered live, frozen, and/or freeze-dried.
What is the best food to feed discus fish?
Best Discus Food Reviewed
- Omega One Super Color Floating Pellets.
- Fluval Bug Bites Cichlid Formula.
- Zoo Med Spirulina 20 Flakes.
- Northfin Krill Gold Pellets.
- New Life Spectrum Optimum Flakes.
- Omega One Freeze Dried Tubifex Worms.
- Omega One Freeze Dried Bloodworms.
- Omega One Freeze Dried Brine Shrimp.
What is best food for discus fish?
Do I need RO water for discus?
While Reverse Osmosis (RO) water is not required to successfully keep discus, for many it is an absolute necessity to breed them. To read our article on how to breed discus, Click Here. Many people are intimidated by the thought of setting one up, but they are really quite easy, and quite inexpensive.
How many times a day should I feed discus?
The question we are asked most often is, “What do you feed your discus, and how often do you feed them.” Discus enjoy a varied diet consisting of high-quality nutrients, but they also like their goodies. Adult discus are fed twice daily, and younger fish are fed three times a day or more.
How long does it take for discus to reach full size?
A 2 ½ inch discus fish is only three months old when they are shipped to customers. The growth rate from 2 ½ inch to 4 inch keeping the fish in a small aquarium will only take four more months.
How often do discus need water changes?
Although all tropical fish aquariums require regular water changes, discus aquariums in specific need frequent water changes. For this reason, you should change your discus’ aquarium water at least once a week. Some people change 20 to 25% of their aquarium’s water two to three times a week.
How to keep discus fish in aquarium?
When keeping discus fish, the GH and the KH of aquarium water should match their natural habitat. A KH of 3-4 and GH of 4-5 can be great for Discus. I highly recommend you to read Discus Water article for a happy and healthy discus in your tank. Another important part of Discus Keeping is Feeding Discus Fish.
How much does a discus fish cost?
Most will cost around $40 per fish. They are often bred in southern Asia, but they originate from the Amazon where they populate flood plains and cling to breaks in the water flow in large schools. Discus fish are very peaceful, avoiding conflict through escape and intimidation.
What are the signs of an unhealthy discus fish?
Unhealthy discus often hide or are dark in color. You also must check the Discus for signs like hanging white string of feces, hole in the head, and heavy breathing. To make a good selection read selecting discus fish article.
What is the best pH for discus?
In nature, Wild discus are living in the “black water” rivers of the Amazon River system with a soft and acidic water. Keep water pH between 6.8 and 7.5 and be careful about fluctuating pH in your discus tank. Stability is the most important factor in regard to pH. Water hardness is a measure of the dissolved mineral content of water.