Basic Discus Fish Care Tips You Should Know About
Keeping discus fish in an aquarium is more than just achieving an aesthetic purpose. They are, of course, some of the most beautiful tropical fishes you can put in that small water enclosure. But having one also entails big responsibility to its keeper.
As most people would know, discus fish is highly reactive to its aquatic environment. Here are several tips to make your discus healthy and happy in its habitat.
Maintain a Clean Tank
As with other aquarium fishes, it is important to keep the tank clean. Discus fishes, in particular, are extremely susceptible to diseases brought by certain water conditions. They are also sensitive to water quality changes and don’t tolerate well with it. There are a lot of tools out there that you can utilize for this specific kind of requirement.
Quarantine New Fish
Don’t forget to quarantine a new discus fish before placing it into the tank. Regardless from which store or breeder they come from, you can’t guarantee that a newcomer isn’t bringing along with it a whole new horde of bacteria, parasites or host of diseases into your enclosure. Quarantining a new discus fish is easy. You just have to keep the new fish in a separate tank for two weeks, at least. Observe them closely throughout the duration of the quarantine. If they are not showing any signs of illnesses at the end of the time period, then it is safe to have them placed in your main tank.
Regulate Water Temperature
Discus fish is a tropical fish. They thrive in relatively temperate waters at around 30 degrees centigrade or 86 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure and maintain the water temperature range of your tank, you might want to use a water heater.
Create an Environment for Them
Unlike other tropical fishes, the body type of a discus fish is well-suited for swimming through foliage. In their wild habitat, a discus fish is often seen swimming through thick gathering of water plants. If not, they are often found hiding through rocks, crevices, and other spots where they can take shelter. Try to provide them this exact kind of environment in your aquarium. Prop aquatic ornaments that not only serve as decorative but also as a good place for them to hide.
Be Mindful of What You Feed
This tip is a given: caring for discus fish also means feeding them with the right kinds of food. Discus fish experts would readily recommend giving them live foods. They can be as simple as worms or bloodworms. Daphnia or brine shrimps also work wonders in their appetite. However, these particular kinds of food can carry unnecessary particulates, bacteria, or parasites into your water tank. Feed them only with the right amount relative to their population. It also helps if you are able to ensure the quality of live feeds you are about to give them.
As you can see, keeping discus fish is not that complicated. Just follow through these discus fish care tips and you can be sure that your fish’s health and condition will flourish.
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