Discus fish (sometimes also called discus fish) are colorful, large and magnificent animals. It’s fair to say that they are the heart of any ornamental aquarium they inhabit. However, it must be remembered that discus fish do not forgive mistakes and have considerable requirements. Check what aquarium they need, what to feed them and how to care for them so that they live in good health for a long time. Get to know the discus fish closer to see if you can handle them!
Discus fish – fish from South America
Where do the paddles live? The fish come from South America, more specifically from the areas around the Amazon. They live in meanders and river basins with calm currents. Their natural habitat is the so-called black water, the visibility of which, as a rule, does not exceed two and a half meters.
Under natural conditions, discus fish live in quite large groups, even several dozen. You can often meet these animals in the company of scalars.
Discus fish – appearance
The names, meaning discus and discus, refer to the body structure of this fish, which is tall and flattened on both sides.
Dishes – varieties
In nature, we can distinguish several types of discus. Fish, of course, have their Latin names, which we also give. Oto one:
- Symphysodon discus (Heckel discus);
- Symphysodon axelrodi (brown palette);
- Symphysodon aequifasciatus haraldi (blue paddle);
- Symphysodon aequifasciatus (green paddle).
Discus fish – fish and their varieties in farms
In breeding, however, for over a hundred years we have been observing the mixing of different genes and the creation of various color varieties. Discus fish are one of the most beautiful and varied ornamental fish. Interesting color variations include:
- Solid Blue;
- Royal Red;
- Blue Diamond;
- Pigeon Blood;
- Red Diamond;
- Marlboro Red;
- Red Snakeskin;
- Red Spotted Green;
- White Ghost;
- Malboro;
- Magic Red.
Discus fish – fish that like company
In nature, the paddles form quite large groups. In the aquarium, they also feel best in larger intra-species herds. The more there are, the greater their sense of security.
A discus is a cichlid. This means that the pair looks after their eggs and looks after the hatched fry very tenderly. In the wild, these fish form highly hierarchical stock structures with one leader – most often the male.
How can the rackets behave? You must watch the fish!
As you can see, this is an exemplary behavior of the discs. However, fish have instincts that are difficult for them to fight. It very often happens that one of them is chosen by the group to be the “whipping boy”. Most often it is the smallest and the weakest. In newly formed groups, the relationship in the herd has to be monitored very carefully in order to be able to intervene if necessary.
Discus fish – aquarium. What should it look like?
Discus fish are fish for very advanced aquarists. This does not mean, of course, that knowledge of the conditions they need is unavailable or difficult to obtain. The challenge is to carefully prepare the aquarium – above all, to properly treat the water.
Discus fish tank – size
What aquarium do the discus need? The fish are big, so should be the tank as well. Additionally, like all cichlids, they are territorial. They live in a herd, and individual areas of the aquarium are subordinated to different individuals. Overcoat leads to conflicts and even torment weaker individuals.
One tray should contain at least 50 liters of water. Discus fish are herd fish, so a minimum majority of the tank can be assumed to be 350 liters (for example 120 x 50 cm). However, the optimal dimensions will be 150 x 55 centimeters.
Discus fish – fish that need adequate water
The recommended water parameters for discus are:
- general hardness – no higher than 15 degrees Celsius, although it is worth keeping it below 10 degrees;
- pH – from 5.5 to 6.5;
- temperature – optimally around 27 degrees Celsius.
The parameters of the water in the discus aquarium must be monitored on an ongoing basis so that the animals have comfortable conditions.
Dishes (fish) – price
The prices of the discs vary widely. At breeders and pet stores you can buy young fish in quite common colors, which cost about 20 zlotys. Adult discus in more sophisticated and rarer color varieties can, however, reach prices of up to several hundred zlotys.
Discus breeding – nutrition
How to feed the discs? The fish in question require a fairly varied diet. In nature, about half of their diet consists of animal and plant remains. They also feed on leaves, fruit, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates.
Try to provide them with good-quality dry food supplemented with frozen and live food on a regular basis. You can also give them (although in limited amounts) vegetables and fruits, such as spinach, peas, oatmeal.
Dishes – diseases
What can be wrong with the discs? Fish called discus fish fall primarily from parasitic diseases. Dangerous microorganisms live in the digestive system of animals. We are talking about flukes, flagellates and, above all, nematodes. Quarantine is necessary when new fish are brought home.
Avitaminosis is also dangerous for discus fish. This problem is caused by too little varied food.
Dishes – quarantine
When you bring new pallets into your home, you absolutely must quarantine them. This is very important because this species of fish is extremely difficult to treat. Parasites brought from the farm or store will quickly infect the remaining discus. Healthy fish in your aquarium must not be exposed.
- Be sure to prepare a quarantine tank in which the water will be as close as possible to the one in which the paddles used to swim.
- You can put a few plants in it, but limit unnecessary decorations that can stress the fish.
- Quarantine should last at least forty days.
You already know the palette closer. The ornamental fish we have written about are quite demanding, but also beautiful and magnificent. They need a very large aquarium with high water parameters. They are gentle, varied and feel best in a herd of their own kind. Remember to protect discus fish that are exposed to parasitic diseases. Be sure to quarantine them when you bring new fish home.