Discus Care is not really as tricky as a lot of people make out, the truth is being the owner of and caring for these fish is a really gratifying experience, particularly with the right perception of how to look after your them. Discus fish are often known as "The kings of the aquarium" and for very good reason. They are elegant, regal, beautiful, colourful and challenging. They have got obtained a bit of a reputation for being frustrating fish to care for, this is simply not actually the situation, in truth caring for these fish is rather fulfilling with a little bit of care in the proper areas you'll have a whole aquarium filled up with vibrant and healthy discus. Some essential things to remember are correct tank setup, diet and how you can prevent diseases. It's also important to necessary to think about the purpose of your tank; will it be a home fish tank or is it going to be more for breeding purposes.
Discus behaviour
As any proud discus owner will know, unlike other types of tropical fish which often shy away from contact with humans, these fish tend to be rather curious and friendly. A keen awareness of their environment is visibly evident as they have a tendency to observe their owners move around the room and quite often they are even know to look at movement on TV.Because they are friendly and personable by nature, discus will recognise and rush to greet you when you approach the aquarium as well as eat straight from your hand. Their trusting and open character is the reason why people adore these awesome fish. They will create a hierarchical structure with an alpha fish being the top fish. A dominant fish usually is the biggest and will be the first one to eat and mate
Discus Tank Mates
This essential and very often neglected part of discus fish care is likely to make the difference from a happy, energetic fish and a stressed out neurotic wreck of a discus. Like most human beings; they are really picky regarding who they live with, therefore it's important to pick the right companions for your fish. Seeing as these fish are actually relaxed and peaceful, they will get bullied by some larger or aggressive fish; freshwater Angelfish is one example. Making it wise to diligently plan which tank mates you would like to introduce to the fish tank. Also, it is beneficial to not overcrowd your aquarium, they like to be kept in small groups and may become upset if their tank is too small or crowded. Some fish that are suitable to live with these fish are listed below: - Emerald catfish - Royal Whiptail - Black Ruby Barb - Dwarf Loach -Tetra (my personal recommendation Neon, Cardinal and Rummy Tetras look great) - African Butterfly Fish - Other small cichlids -And of course other types of discus fish
Feeding discus
These fish are actually like to eat small meals it is therefore best to give them little meals more often, rather than one larger meal once a day, older fish ought to be feed two to three times a day, however young fish should be feed about 5 times every day. Overfeeding discus fish can be a serious issue, their body shape and the fact that their bladder is right on top of their bellies is why they they won't react well to over feeding.
Once you follow these discus care points you will have a whole tank packed with happy and healthy discus.
Want to to know more about discus care, then read my caring for discus article where you will find lots of great information on all aspect of caring for discus fish.
