Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful
Color: Huge variety available
Lifespan: 10 years
Size: 8-10 inches
Diet: Omnivorous
Family: Cichlidae
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Tank Setup: Intermediate
Compatibility: Often compatible
Approximate Size Sold: 3"+
Discus fish are very peaceful, avoiding conflict through escape and intimidation. In most tanks, they are one of the largest and brightest fish.
They are schooling fish, and in large groups can create a wall of patterns across the tank.
Like all cichlids, there can be some competition in the shoal and a pecking order will be established. This means smaller fish will need to be monitored to make sure they are able to eat.
They tend to stay in the mid-levels but will rise to the top and dip to the bottom to forage; so they can easily dominate all levels of the tank. They do prefer to be free-swimming but need the option to be close to cover such as large driftwood or plants in the tank.
Appearance
Discus fish are named after their disc shape appearance – some variations are more triangular or round than others, but all are thin and flat looking.They have rounded dorsal and anal fins that add to their overall body shape, as well as pronounced pelvic and caudal fins. The body can be 8-10 inches long, making them a large fish for home aquariums.
Their popularity comes from their intense colors that can have:
- greens
- bright blues
- reds
- browns
- yellows
They are much brighter when bred in captivity compared to their wild counterparts.
The coloring comes together in vertical and horizontal stripes that cover fins as well as their body. They become more pronounced and will flare when they feel threatened, which is beautiful but should be avoided as they are sensitive to stress. Their eyes come in a variety of colors too, with red being highly prized – red eyes are not a sign of health despite this myth being spread frequently.
Discus Fish Types
The different types of Discus are based on their colorations. Varieties such as Giant Flora and Red Alenquer Discus boast light blues and deep reds, while Albino Platinum Discus are all white with red eyes that seem to almost glow. One of the most common types is a checkerboard Discus fish, that has a mottled turquoise splashed over a deep red base. There are so many different types, it is worth your time to create a shoal that has the colors you like the most.
Habitat and Tank Requirements
Discus originates from the flood plains of the Amazon, where a ‘flood pulse’ can change the level of water by meters in-depth as it rises along a shallow flood plain. This pulse provides much more space for growth, breeding and best of all, feeding. They are found in crevices and breaks in the water flow, such as small inlets or among fallen trees, where their wide body is protected from the current. These areas are shaded, and the riverbed is soft sediment. The wild conditions of the Discus fish can be replicated in the home aquarium, however, it can be challenging for beginner hobbyists.
Discus (Fish) Tank Conditions
These fish require higher temperatures than most fish 82-88°F. Keeping this warmer temperature will reduce the chance of illness and deaths, it can be maintained using a good quality heater. Amazonian water is soft and slightly acidic, with a pH between 6 and 7. Check before purchasing your fish what pH and temperature they have been raised in to prevent drastic changes that could be fatal.
The water in your aquarium needs to be de-chlorinated and treated with formulas that neutralize your tap water. The flow should be weak, this can be broken using a spray bar or by using driftwood or ornaments. Vertical wood can also be used to break the water flow, just make sure that these pieces of wood can’t injure the side of the Discus as it swims past. They prefer soft to medium sediment, as they often search for food on the substrate and larger pieces could injure them as they forage. Plants such as the Amazon Sword Plant or Dwarf Hairgrass are easy to add to your tank and provide oxygen to your fish. Plants also act as a nutrient sink, meaning drops in water quality are rarer.
What Size Tank Does Discus Need?
As these fish need to be in schools of at least 5, a 50-gallon tank is the smallest tank they will thrive in. They prefer larger tanks, and upwards of 100 gallons means there will be less drastic changes in water conditions and they will have the space they desire. One Discus fish per 7 gallons is ideal.
Discus Fish Tank Mates
Discus can often be shy, but this can be helped by surrounding them with a couple of other fish (known as dither fish) that show them they are not in danger. Fish that come from the same warm Amazon waters are a great place to start, and shoaling Tetras can look amazing. These include neon tetras, rummy-nose tetras, and ember tetras. They are beautiful and easy to care for.
Other great fish to pair them with are gouramis, Bolivian rams, and Pencil fish. Marbled or Neon Hatchet fish are great fish to pair with them, because hatchet fish occupy the highest level of the tank, just make sure your lid is tightly fitted!
Almost all Corydoras would pair excellently with these fish, however, they often require colder waters. Sterbai Cory Catfish is the best type of catfish to include because they live in warmer waters while occupying a different level of the tank and being extremely peaceful. These fish can’t be paired with aggressive fish, and some fish try to eat the Discus’ mucus coat which wounds them.
Angelfish are sometimes no trouble, whilst other times they bully them and out-compete them for the limited supply of food. It really comes down to the individual temperaments of each of the fish so if you want to keep these fish together, do it with caution. They are also compatible with any of the larger species of snail and shrimp but watch that they are not small enough to be eaten or damaged.
Can You Keep Discus Fish Together?
Discus should be kept together, and those of different varieties will also school together meaning you can have great color variations.
A minimum of 5 is recommended, but more will look better and create a sturdier group.
Discus Feeding
Discus is omnivores, and in the wild, they primarily eat green plant matter such as algae or fallen food. A third of their diet also comes from arthropods, such as insects or crustaceans, and invertebrates such as copepods and amphipods. For the best coloration, a variety of foods should be given to them. Different kinds of flake food such as spirulina and tropical fish flakes, combined with algae or shrimp pellets, can make up the vegetable part of their diet.
Live food such as blood worm, mosquito larvae, and brine shrimp is good for them and can encourage bright colors to show. Beef heart, while not natural, is commonly fed and does no harm. They will need feeding every day, and only what they eat in a 3-5 minute window. Any excess food should be cleared up after 5 minutes, as excess food can lead to health issues or bad quality water. As they have a pecking order, you should also watch your fish make sure that all of them are able to eat and aren’t being blocked by larger tank mates.
If this happens consistently, you can put feed at either side of the tank.
Care
The best way to ensure healthy fish is through observation and frequent maintenance. Discus fish are sensitive to water parameter changes. If they are unable to balance, leaning on the driftwood or against the side of the tank, then it could indicate a nitrite spike. These fish need weekly full tank cleans, with water changes of 25% and the sediment cleaned using a gravel vacuum to remove excess food.
The water needs testing frequently when it is new, and this can be done with home kits or at the stores.
Due to their requirement for warmer temperatures, the temperature of the water needs measuring daily, and this can be done with a permanent thermometer in the tank. Parasite infections can also cause the fish to scratch their sides on ornaments or on the sediment. Reddened areas may also show up, with rapid breathing. A combination of water changes and parasite removal will usually solve this. Monthly parasite removal solutions are readily available from pet stores.
As for observation, spend time watching your fish and if you notice changes in behavior or coloration, it could be an indication something is wrong.
Breeding
Breeding fish can be a challenge, but breeding Discus is a real challenge. They are very difficult to breed however, this makes them very rewarding too. They have very specific requirements for breeding, and all the parameters previously mentioned (in the tank setup section) must be perfectly maintained. It is advised to use a spawning cone, which provides the ideal place for them to lay their eggs, and then you can place a tube of wire over the eggs to stop them from being eaten.
Some breeders then separate the female as she is more likely to cannibalize her fry, and the male will rear the fry on his own. The fry hatch after three days, and in another three days they will be independent swimmers, feeding on mucus produced by their parents.
The photo/video is for illustrative purposes only.
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