Care for your Discus fish well and enjoy their company for about 5 years...
The Discus is an expensive fish but cheap to maintain. This is because you can use simple aquariums with easy maintenance to ensure the healthy environment for your Discus.
It is advisable to buy a large tank to accommodate for the increasing population of your Discus. Alternatively, you can buy multi-tier tanks to conserve space. It is cheaper to buy 1 large tank than to change tanks when you need to upgrade to a larger space for your fish. On the average, a Discus needs 10-15 gallons of water per fish. A simple filter is not only cheap but also easier to maintain. Take your pick from a variety of sponge filters. (Sponge filters offer only one type of filtration and water quality would deteriorate rapidly if only a sponge filter was provided. Look at other options).
In an air-conditioned room or in winter, you may need a heater to regulate the temperature at 28 degree Celsius. Position your tank away from sunlight. A Discus has a life span of about 10 years so you should buy those that you really like. Get several Discuses to keep one another company. To avoid the hassle of uncertainty about the fish's body markings and coloring, buy those that are about 4 cm long. These are mature enough to indicate the future markings and coloring of the adult Discus.
Caring for Discus involves changing the water frequently, feeding then good quality fish food and inspecting them daily for detection and treatment of diseases.
Your Discus needs daily change of water. It releases heavy wastes and the unfinished food also pollutes the water. Dirty water affects the Discus' health. Stand the bucket of water overnight to let the chlorine evaporate before using this water.
The Discus needs good quality fish food. Avoid live food to eliminate the risk of disease from the livestock. you can use dry or frozen food. For healthier fish, add shrimp, prawn and spirulina for protein. Powdered multivitamins can be fed to your Discus.
When you look at your pet Discus, don't just admire them. Watch out for signs of disease like finrot, bodyslime, changes in body color, loss of appetite or nervousness. Early detection saves time and money in treatment as you can arrest the disease in its infancy. Consult your vet or local breeder for help. It is a good idea to change the water and fast your fish for a maximum of 3 days while you try to find out what's wrong with them.
