Housing Discus and Aquarium Fish Tank Set-up Tipsĭiscus may grow to be pretty big, requiring a 284 liter (75-gallon) aquarium or bigger when fully mature. Many people prefer to keep Discus in a separate aquarium from other species. Small to medium-sized catfish, such as Corydoras catfish, are also ideal tank mates, but keep in mind that Discus are still members of the Cichlid family and should not be housed with very small fish that may fit in their mouths since they may end up as a meal. Most serious enthusiasts do not mix discus with a wide variety of other species.Ī shoal of Emperor or Cardinal tetras, some loaches like the Clown Loach, and dwarf cichlids such as Balloon Blue Rams or Balloon Electric Blue Ram all make good aquarium companions.Īll of these fish can withstand the higher temperatures and low pH/hardness that discus require. If shy or submissive fish are unable to compete, they should be removed. Behavior/Compatibility for Discusĭiscus are typically gentle fish, although like cichlids, they may be aggressive toward one another, particularly when seeking to couple off and reproduce. They love calm water and are seldom encountered in places with strong currents or waves. Seasonal flooding causes dramatic variations in water level in some places.ĭiscus tend to concentrate among fallen trees along the coast, known as "galhadas." Natural Habitatĭiscus may be found throughout the lowland Amazon River basin and parts of its tributaries, notably the Rio Negro, in floodplain lakes and flooded woodlands. Red discus fish free#There are various color variants available now, and more are being created via selective breeding.Ĭaptive bred discus will couple up and spawn fairly easily although, it is not unusual for immature parents to consume the eggs, which appears to be more likely if other fish are present in the tank.įor the first several days after hatching, the young will feed on body mucus released by the parents until they begin free swimming. However the discus we provide are captivity bred and are more accepting of prepared foods and more tolerant to a wider range of water conditions which makes them much easier to keep.ĭiscus, however are still not a fish for novices instead, we recommend them for people who have prior experience keeping fish. A novice fish keeper will have better success with Discus that are larger than 3 inches in size.At least three species have been recognized, while the legitimacy of multiple species' scientific names is currently being debated.ĭiscus have a reputation as being difficult to keep due to their specific water chemistry and food demands, and whilst it is true that wild caught discus can be difficult to keep. They can be a shy fish, because of this the aquarium should not be placed in high traffic areas where people are always walking by. They are not difficult to keep as long as water parameters and temperature are to their liking. At two weeks of age they will start to accept finely ground flake food or baby brine shrimp.Īdditional Information: There are almost too may different colour variations of Discus with new ones coming out all the time. Fry are best kept with the parents as they will eat the slime that the parents secrete. Sexing: Venting is the best way to sex Discus.īreeding: Discus will lay their eggs on broad leaved plants like Amazon Swords or almost any vertical flat surface that is to their liking. Hole-in-the-head disease (HITH) is associated with poor water quality and feeding tubifex. Tubifex carries too many pathogens and the risk of introducing disease to your Discus is too great a risk. They WILL eat a broad range of foods from flakes, small pellets, frozen, and live worms along with brine shrimp, but not always on the first attempt. Tank mates that eat the food that you want them to eat will encourage Discus to eat it also. Discus can be quite particular when it comes to food, but can be trained to readily accept almost any type of food. Wild Discus require pH 6.0 – 6.5 while tank raised Discus can go all the way up to 8.0 pH.įeeding: When purchasing, always ask what they are being fed. The best thing is to simulate the conditions your Discus were raised in. Water Chemistry: Juvenile and wild F1 Discus generally require softer water and a lower pH than tank raised Discus. Temperature: 82 – 88 Deg F / 28 – 30 Deg C They do best when kept as a group of 6 or more. American dwarf cichlid species and tetras. Recommended Minimum Aquarium Capacity: 40 gallon / 160 litreĬompatibility: Discus are a very peaceful fish and should be kept with other peaceful fish like some of the S. Typical Tank Setup: Well planted with driftwood / bogwood and some rock work. Scientific Name: Symphysodon Aequifaciatus sp.Īverage Adult Fish Size: 8 inches / 20 cm
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