larry lob
01-13-2003, 06:02 AM
Hi,
Thought i might add a few facts here for the newbie......
Discus live in soft slightly acidic waters in the amazon basins.
In our tanks we try to replicate this by keeping our fish in water that has a Ph of 6.5 - 7.5 lower for breeding around 6.
the hardness is around 4 - 10 GH (genral hardness) and 1 3 Kh (carbonate hardness) again for breeding the lower end of these figures is best and for growing fry the higher end.
There are many various oppinions on water parameters but the one thing that is most agreed is discus will thrive in many variations of water as long as they are CONSTANT and fresh with most opting for daily water changes.
they are from warm climates and like temps ranging from 82 - 88 degrees. they need a varied diet, most feed a combination of difrent foods 2 - 3 times a day.
Things likefresh or frozen Bloodworm, blackworm, red or black mosquito larve, daphnia, beef heart, diskusin, shrimp brine, myissi shrimp, baby shrimp, and a whole host of dryed foods. Diskus also like vegtables as well as meat and fish. Cucumber, spinach, carrot and more will ensure your fish are healthy and happy.
the biggest tank you can afford and run is best as they are best kept in groups no less than 6 juveniles but again the more the merrier. A genral rule of thumb is one adult diskus per 10 gallons of water.
for young fish create the odd calm sppot in the tank that a fish can get away and hide for a while if they are under too much stress, however by nature diskus are active, inquisitive fish that seldom hide, they approach the front of the tank begging for food.
Filtration is also important and needs to be adiquate for the amount of water and fish in the tank, i'll leave that for another to go more in depth.
I know there is alot more and i invite other member to add hints and tips here to get this thread right for the begginer.
On a closing note, any new diskus enthusiast that has found this site has infact stumbled on the cream of forums for help advice and genral friendliness, feel free to ask and recieve help from the best here at simply.
Good luck and happy fish keeping.
Larry
Thought i might add a few facts here for the newbie......
Discus live in soft slightly acidic waters in the amazon basins.
In our tanks we try to replicate this by keeping our fish in water that has a Ph of 6.5 - 7.5 lower for breeding around 6.
the hardness is around 4 - 10 GH (genral hardness) and 1 3 Kh (carbonate hardness) again for breeding the lower end of these figures is best and for growing fry the higher end.
There are many various oppinions on water parameters but the one thing that is most agreed is discus will thrive in many variations of water as long as they are CONSTANT and fresh with most opting for daily water changes.
they are from warm climates and like temps ranging from 82 - 88 degrees. they need a varied diet, most feed a combination of difrent foods 2 - 3 times a day.
Things likefresh or frozen Bloodworm, blackworm, red or black mosquito larve, daphnia, beef heart, diskusin, shrimp brine, myissi shrimp, baby shrimp, and a whole host of dryed foods. Diskus also like vegtables as well as meat and fish. Cucumber, spinach, carrot and more will ensure your fish are healthy and happy.
the biggest tank you can afford and run is best as they are best kept in groups no less than 6 juveniles but again the more the merrier. A genral rule of thumb is one adult diskus per 10 gallons of water.
for young fish create the odd calm sppot in the tank that a fish can get away and hide for a while if they are under too much stress, however by nature diskus are active, inquisitive fish that seldom hide, they approach the front of the tank begging for food.
Filtration is also important and needs to be adiquate for the amount of water and fish in the tank, i'll leave that for another to go more in depth.
I know there is alot more and i invite other member to add hints and tips here to get this thread right for the begginer.
On a closing note, any new diskus enthusiast that has found this site has infact stumbled on the cream of forums for help advice and genral friendliness, feel free to ask and recieve help from the best here at simply.
Good luck and happy fish keeping.
Larry