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Successfully Keep Your New Discus Aqualand’s inside info on Symphysodon species |
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Size. Big discus cost more than small discus. However, the larger discus survive better than the little guys. Discus less than the size of a half dollar can be very difficult to keep alive. Start with the largest discus you can afford.
Space. Just because you saw discus in a retailer’s 10-gallon tank does not mean discus enjoy that tank. Adults need more than 10 gallons each.
Groups. Get two only or get six or more. If you get three discus, they want to play odd man out. The shy guy gets picked on until he dies. Water.
Yes, you can keep your discus healthy in our “moderately hard”
(220 ppm) pH 7.5 Des Moines water. However,
if you decide to breed them, you need to lower your hardness and pH level.
Don’t do this unless absolutely necessary.
Very soft water usually cannot maintain a stable pH. Bright Colors: Discus (like other cichlids) do not develop their full colors until they attain maturity. Those very bright red/blue/green juveniles are “juiced up” with hormones. The hormones bring out their adult colors. Some discus keepers insist these color hormones sterilize the discus. In any event, your bright colored juveniles will lose their bright colors after a while. They will regain them when they mature.
Tank
Mates.
Okay, you just bought two $100 fishes and you want to mix in some
cheapies to keep them company. Just
add some feeder goldfish. Or maybe a carp
out of the nearest river? Let’s
get serious. Every fish you add is a
potential disease carrier. At least
quarantine your new additions before adding them to your tank of discus.
Most algae eaters love to suck on the sides of
discus. Livebearers also
enjoy picking at the slime that covers discus adults.
Cichlids usually harbor hexamita – a disease often fatal to discus.
Your best mixers? Tetras or
cory cats. Better yet, add some
snails. Best of all, keep your discus by themselves.
Disease. You’ll probably never see “ich” on a discus, since you keep them in water too warm for the ich germs. Discus have a different problem -- hexamita. Hexamita causes the nasty “hole-in-the-head disease” which causes discus to darken, quit eating, and waste away. (Of course they die.) Treat it with metronidazole.
Food. Discus (and discus keepers) tend to lock onto one favorite food. Give your discus a variety. Yes, they eat flake and frozen foods. Add some snails to clean up any excess food.
Breeding. You will need additional info, if you intend to breed your discus. At least 20 books have been written on this very popular fish. Buy at least one BEFORE you kill your first batch of discus.
Last Comments. Clean water is essential to keeping discus. Change 50% weekly. You can add hornwort or another fast-growing plant to help keep your water clean. LA. Additional
Comments from
Thanks,
Thom. We get most of our discus from the Far East. Their price
list calls them “Hormoned Discus.” We used to have an Iowa
source, but no longer do we see locally raised discus. LA © 1997, © 2004, © 2005 LA Productions
3600 Sixth Avenue Corner of Sixth & Euclid Avenues Des Moines, IA 50313 515 283-0300 |
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