| You've been to every local fish store in your area. | | | | keep walking. Now, (if you haven't left the store) |
| You've spent hours online looking at Discus | | | | look at the fish, they should have a full body that |
| galleries. You've started thinking of things you can | | | | doesn't look sunken and is free of scrapes, |
| sell to pay for the Discus fish and aquarium set | | | | bumps, visible injuries and or parasites. The body |
| up. You've put your couch in the garage to make | | | | shape should have a nice round appearance void |
| room for the aquarium. It sounds like you've been | | | | of bent, stubbed tails and flat foreheads. Check |
| bitten by the Discus bug. Now, how do you get | | | | the skin and make sure it doesn't have a dull, |
| started? | | | | matte, or slimy look to it. The fins should look |
| There are as many opinions on how to properly | | | | healthy and not have a cottony or milky |
| raise Discus as there are websites devoted to | | | | appearance. The fins should be intact with no |
| them. You will find debates over planted tank vs. | | | | white specs or splits and not be clamped to the |
| bare bottom, tap water or RO, what to feed | | | | body. The Discus should be using both pectoral |
| them, how often to change the water and how | | | | fins to move about. Watch for how the fish are |
| much, it goes on and on. These debates | | | | breathing. An overly rapid gill rate or if the Discus |
| contribute to making Discus keeping fun or a real | | | | looks to be gasping is a good sign of gill parasites. |
| pain. It really depends on your likes and dislikes. If | | | | The fishes movement should be fluent and have |
| you enjoy the excitement and challenge of | | | | no problem with balance. You don't want to pick a |
| learning something new and are able to | | | | fish that can't hold itself level. The eyes of your |
| successfully translate many different opinions into | | | | Discus should have a healthy clean look to them. |
| "what works best for you", then keeping Discus | | | | The eyes are a good indicator of how well it's |
| will be a fun rewarding undertaking which you can | | | | been taken care of. You will want a fish with small |
| enjoy for years to come. With that being said, | | | | eyes compared to its body with a centered pupil. |
| the following are some guidelines to what I've | | | | Big or bulging eyes are usually a sign of neglect. |
| learned over the years and what works best for | | | | Ask to see the Discus eat. Be wary if they feed |
| me in setting up a new Discus aquarium. | | | | live blood worms or tubiflex worms. Watch to |
| Equipment | | | | make sure the fish are able to easily get the food |
| In choosing the tank, start with a minimum tank | | | | into their mouth. Avoid fish that continually miss |
| size of 50 gallons. Make sure you have a suitable | | | | the food that is right in front of them or don't |
| place to set up your aquarium. You will want a | | | | seem interested in eating. Most 2"-3" Discus wont |
| very sturdy support for your tank which you will | | | | have full body color or pattern at this size. |
| position in a location that doesn't receive direct | | | | Installing Your Discus |
| sunlight. The filtration system will be made up of | | | | For the proposed 50 gallon setup you will want to |
| two extra large sponge filters run by an air pump | | | | purchase from six to ten, two - three inch |
| along with an external box filter such as an Aqua | | | | juvenile Discus. Young Discus like the security of |
| Clear properly rated for your tank size and | | | | numbers. Make sure you follow standard |
| containing a pre-filter sponge on the intake tube. | | | | acclimation procedures and that your tank is fully |
| You will need a heater with a ratio of 5watts | | | | cycled as stated above. As your fish grow and |
| gallon, meaning a tank size of 50 gallons would | | | | mature a pecking order will develop. Eventually the |
| require a 250 watt heater. The tank needs to be | | | | smaller weaker Discus will need to be removed in |
| covered and there are hood options available | | | | order to keep a 10 gallon to 1 Discus rule. In order |
| when you purchase your tank. You will want one | | | | to provide an easy way to keep a clean |
| with a lighting strip as well as a cover for the | | | | environment for your new fish, use a bare |
| tank. In a pinch you can always pick up a piece of | | | | aquarium. That means no gravel or plants. The |
| Plexiglass from your local hardware store and cut | | | | bare bottom tank makes it easy to vacuum fish |
| it to fit. In order to keep the tank clean and | | | | waste and wipe down the glass. If you'd like, you |
| maintained, you will need a siphon hose, a five | | | | can add a ceramic pot or two to give your Discus |
| gallon bucket and a clean utility sponge. | | | | an anchor to establish territories but the pots will |
| Preparing for Your Discus' Arrival | | | | need to be moved and wiped down with your |
| You will want to have your aquarium cycled | | | | water changes to ensure they aren't trapping |
| before adding your Discus. This means that the | | | | waste. Once a week you will want to clean your |
| beneficial bacteria has been established in your | | | | pre filter and every few weeks, your sponge and |
| filtration. There are many methods of cycling your | | | | box filters, being careful to use de-chlorinated |
| tank so be sure to do your research and choose | | | | water as to not harm the beneficial bacteria. A |
| the option that fits for you. It is a very important | | | | good tip here is to syphon some tank water into |
| step and is absolutely necessary. Putting your new | | | | your five gallon bucket and use that for your filter |
| Discus in a tank that hasn't been cycled is a death | | | | cleaning water. |
| sentence for the fish. | | | | Discus Water |
| Buying Your Discus Fish | | | | Clean water is a crucial element in growing out |
| An absolute must is starting with healthy Discus. | | | | your fish. You will want to match the water |
| If you are lucky enough to have a reputable | | | | conditions as closely as possible to that of the |
| breeder in your area you are ahead of the game. | | | | source of your Discus. Daily changes of 50 to 60 |
| If not, mail order is also an exciting option. There's | | | | percent is recommended and at least on an |
| a real rush and excitement to having Discus | | | | every other day schedule. You will want to |
| delivered to your front door. Make sure to | | | | provide new tap water that has been |
| research any online vendor you may want to | | | | de-chlorinated and matches closely to the tank |
| order from. There are some great breeders out | | | | water in temperature at 84 degrees. Avoid using |
| there with a great selection. On the downside | | | | RO water for young Discus, they need the |
| shipping usually runs from $50-$75 depending on | | | | minerals of harder water to aid in there |
| the service. If mail order isn't an option and you | | | | development. Once they have matured and if |
| are left with your local fish store you'll need to | | | | you're interested in breeding them you can dabble |
| take some precautions and do your best to pick | | | | with softening their water. If you have purchased |
| out healthy fish. If possible try to find a shop that | | | | Discus from different places you will need to keep |
| specializes in higher end tropical fish and avoid | | | | them quarantined separately for 4 - 6 weeks. |
| chain stores. Find out what the shop's quarantine | | | | Don't Cheat! |
| and guarantee policies are. Ask them how long | | | | Feeding Your Discus |
| the Discus should be quarantined once you get | | | | Your new Discus should greet you at the front of |
| them home. If their answer is "you don't need to", | | | | the tank with a voracious appetite. Happy healthy |
| this is a major red flag. Ask questions to get a | | | | Discus are always hungry. You will want to break |
| feel for how well they support and care for their | | | | up their feedings over several times during the |
| product. | | | | day adding up to six small feedings. Feed a |
| So, what does a healthy Discus look like? Here a | | | | variety of foods using quality brands of dry and |
| some things to look for in the Discus you buy: | | | | frozen foods. A good tip is to feed dry foods |
| When you walk by the tank, the fish should be | | | | which your fish may not like as much early when |
| active and come up to greet you. Avoid fish that | | | | they're hungry from their overnight fast. Feed |
| are dark, hiding or hanging behind uplift tubes. The | | | | messy or frozen foods later in the day closer to |
| water in the tank and the tank itself should look | | | | your water changes. |
| clear and clean. If there are dead fish in the tank | | | | |