You should set up your aquarium as close to what it gets in nature as possible. Discus care:ĭiscus prefers to live in well-aerated warm water with slow water flow. To reduce territorial behaviors you should first avoid adding too many fish and move tank decoration around from time to time. This behavior is more noticeable once they pair up and start to breed. So it’s important to not put any super small fish with these guys.ĭiscus are territorial and will fight with other Discus or other types of fish over territory. They are also ambush predators and will actively hunt small fish that might not even fit in their mouths. They are omnivore fish and will eat any small fish or shrimp that fits in their mouth. These fish are more active during the day than at night. They will swim around the tank without causing any trouble for other plants or the same-size fish. Behavior & Temperamentĭiscus are semi-aggressive active fish that don’t mind living with other small cichlids or other small fish types. A bad diet, low water quality, and stress will reduce the life expectancy of this beautiful fish. Under the right conditions, Discus will live for about 10-15 years. Most discus fish kept in aquariums will only grow to an average of 6 inches.įemale Discus has smaller bodies compared to males. They will only grow to 10 inches when the food is right and the tank is big enough. Discus size:ĭiscus fish will grow to 5-10 inches in diameters (including the fins). This is more visible in wild-caught Discus that are not well adapted to aquarium environments. They might also lose color when water parameters, tank setup, or food is not in their favor. These fish are very vulnerable to stress and will lose their color and vibrancy when they are under stress. The captive-bred varieties are line bred to create different colors and more beautiful patterns. The wild varieties are usually striped with dull colors so they can camouflage in rivers. Discus are semi-peaceful fish with occasional aggressive tendencies, especially in the breeding season. In the wild, their body shape helps them to hide, behind roots and plants, from predatory larger fish. They have compressed but round bodies with fins that are not too long, which makes these fish very beautiful. This looks very similar to a disc which is why they named this fish Discus Fish (Circular Fish). This will make them feel safe and calm them down. In Aquarium, you will need to add driftwood, plants, and rocks to mimic their natural habitat. The fish’s natural habitat is filled with driftwood, fallen trees, and live plants that they can scavenge for small creatures to prey on. In the wild, Discus fish are found in slow-moving streams and rivers where water is warm and slightly acidic. Following all the points we mentioned here in this article will help you keep this fish healthy and alive for years to come. Keeping these fish healthy and alive is a tedious job and you will need to put in a lot of time and work into it. However, they are extremely fussy and difficult fish to keep. This makes them a great fish for community tanks and will make a great addition to any aquarium. They tend to be compatible with most small predatory and non-predatory fish. Like all cichlids, Discus will prey upon small fish and invertebrates in the tank and will fight over territory. Discus are popular aquarium fish for their unique disk-shaped flat body. Discus is a freshwater fish belonging to the Cichlidae family native to the Amazon River in South America.
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