Discus fish
The spotted discus fish, often called the "king of the aquarium", is a member of the Cichlidae family. The title is an allusion to the discus fish's brilliant colors and beautiful appearance. There are three known species, but there is debate regarding the classification of their scientific names. Wild-caught discus fish can be difficult to care for due to their specific water and dietary requirements. However, most discus available today are captive-bred, making them more manageable. Still, they are not ideal for beginners due to their specific requirements. Through selective breeding, many color variations have been produced, and more continue to be developed.
Discus Habitat
Discus fishes are native to floodplain lakes and flooded forests within the Amazon River basin and its tributaries such as the Rio Negro. These areas experience significant seasonal flooding, causing extreme changes in water levels. Discus are usually found near fallen trees on the shore and prefer calm waters rather than fast currents or waves.
People Also Read-blood parrot fish
Need of water
These fish thrive in warm, soft, acidic water with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 and a hardness of 1° to 4° dKH (18 to 70 ppm). The ideal water temperature is between 82° to 86°F, although wild Heckel Discus prefer closer to 90°F. Consider using an aquarium heater to maintain the correct temperature. While captive-bred discus can survive in treated tap water, the use of reverse osmosis or deionized water with supplements provides optimal conditions. Always ask about the water chemistry in which your disc was raised. They require pure water quality, so regular water changes of 10% to 25% weekly is important. Treat tap water with a water conditioner before returning it to the tank.
Tank Setup
Discus fish can grow quite large, so a tank of 75 gallons or larger is ideal once they reach full size. Taller aquariums commensurate with their size are recommended. The water flow should be gentle, and the tank should include large plants and vertical driftwood to mimic their natural habitat. Floating plants can also provide shady areas and cover. For substrate, use sand or smooth gravel, as discus like to forage for food along the bottom.
Discus behavior
Usually calm and peaceful, discus fish can show aggression towards each other, especially during spawning or pairing. If a shy or submissive fish is unable to compete, remove it. Serious hobbyists often avoid mixing discus with many other species. Good tankmates include cardinal tetra, neon, emperor and rhuminose tetras, clown loaches and rams, and dwarf cichlids such as Apistogramma species, which can all tolerate similar conditions.
Diet
In the wild, discus fishes eat a mixture of plant matter, debris, and bottom-dwelling organisms such as insects and small crustaceans. They are omnivorous and can thrive on tropical flakes, colored flakes, spirulina flakes, granules, algae rounds and shrimp pellets. Treat them occasionally with frozen and live foods, as this can encourage egg laying. Some hobbyists and breeders feed beef heart, which is not harmful but is not natural for discus. Vary their diet daily and feed them only what they can eat in 2 to 3 minutes once or twice a day.
Reproduction
Breeding captive-bred discus is relatively simple, but young, inexperienced parents may eat their eggs at first, especially if other fish are present. After hatching, the babies feed on mucus secreted by the parents for a few days until they are ready to swim independently. Parents will often move children back and forth throughout the day.
0 Comments