Tips for Keeping Discus Fish

Doronenko Wikimedia

Discus fish require tender loving care. Unlike other species such as guppies or swordtails, which are easy to keep, discus have certain needs that must be fulfilled in order to keep them healthy and happy. Water conditions, temperature, hiding places and nutritious foods all play a key role in keeping discus fish. Take a peek at these tips for keeping discus fish.



Provide an exceptionally clean environment for discus. To remain healthy discus fish must be kept in very clean aquariums because they are extra sensitive to water conditions and diseases. Water conditions and pH levels are generally more stable in larger sized tanks. This being the case, it is a good idea to keep discus fish in a minimum of 40-gallon aquariums or larger.

Use a heater to keep water temperatures between 84 to about 86 degrees Fahrenheit. This is an ideal temperature range that most discus prefer and thrive in.

Prepare the right type of environment. Discus fish can easily become upset when the tank is placed in a location with too much outside activity in the room. They also love to hide and snoop around the tank. Make sure the aquarium is set up with live plants, rocks or decorations where they can hide and feel secure. If a fish needs this type of security and does not have hiding places, they can feel stressed and more susceptible to diseases.

Quarantine new additions to the tank. Of course, we all try and pick out what we think are healthy fish, but sometimes infections or diseases are not discovered until we get a new fish home. If you have the space, it really is a good idea to quarantine new fish purchases in a separate aquarium for about two weeks before introducing them into your main tank.

Keep the water clean. Use a high quality filter that removes heavy metals without affecting pH levels. Most other types of tropical fish are okay with water changes every couple of weeks or even monthly. However, discus tanks should have weekly water changes of 20 to 30 percent. Changing more than this amount is not recommended because it affects the healthy bacteria in the water and stresses out the discus.

Feed discus well, but make sure you do not foul the water by over feeding. Discus thrive on live food and need it to remain healthy. Consider the added expense of feeding live foods and larger aquarium requirements before purchasing this species. Feed them live brine shrimp, daphnia, blood worms or worms. A healthier diet usually results in fish with even brighter colors.

If you would like more information about raising discus check out SimplyDiscus. This is a very active forum with lots of tips supplied by forum members.
Try out these tips for keeping discus fish. Once you get into the habit of frequent water changes, provide high quality food with a good filtration system, you should be on the path to healthy discus fish.