Food for discus - how many times to feed, what food to choose for discus

What do discus eat?

In nature, discus fish live in the Amazon basin. After seasonal floods of the river, there remain countless small reservoirs with very clean, almost distilled water, in which these beautiful tropical fish live. When examining the stomach contents of wild individuals, scientists discovered remains of:

• mosquito larvae (bloodworms);
• small freshwater shrimp;
• mayfly larvae;
• small worms;
• white mosquito larvae;
• detritus (remains of invertebrates and undecomposed particles of plant and animal origin).

The general characteristics of the natural food of discus are small, up to several millimeters long, larvae of insects and invertebrates, small teenage shrimp with a soft chitinous shell. That is, the “kings” are never vegetarians by nature.

Recommended composition of the “royal” food:

• 30-40% animal protein;
• 5-10% fat (in nature it is about 2%);
• up to 3% carbohydrates (fiber);
• mineral supplements;
• vitamin complex;
• up to 3% ballast substances to improve peristalsis (crushed shrimp shells, coretra).

These predatory fish primarily need animal protein, and plant debris can be either a necessary or an accidental component captured in the bottom silt during feeding. However, according to the world's most qualified discus experts, German experts, balanced mixtures should contain carbohydrates of plant origin.

Description and features

Discus fish (lat. Symphysodon) are cichlids. The fish have a round, disc-like body - this is why they got their name. But their main feature lies in their attractive patterned color, which inspired breeders to develop new breeds.

History of discovery

At the beginning of the 19th century, an employee of the Vienna Museum of Natural Sciences, Johan Natterer, brought from Brazil a fish not yet known to European scientists. The man did not have time to examine his trophy preserved in alcohol, but his colleague Johan Jakob Heckel continued the work. By the way, it was his merits in the development of ichthyology that were decided to be noted in the specific epithet - Symphysodon discus Heckel.

Several more species of discus were caught in the 20th century by American ichthyologist Leonard Schultz. In 1960, the scientist proposed his own classification of species, which included Heckel’s discus, green, brown and blue discus. Subsequently, the blue and brown species were combined into one.

Discus fish were only brought to Europe as aquarium fish in the early 1920s. They appeared in the Soviet Union in 1957, but breeders were unable to propagate the species. Discus fish were reintroduced to the USSR in 1962.

Habitat

In their natural environment, discus fish are found in the Amazon basin. The range covers the territories of Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru.

The fish prefer backwaters with dark, soft water. Individuals stay close to the shore with dense bushes. Here they not only live and feed, but also spawn.

After the end of the rainy season, most of the creeks become isolated from the riverbed. This locality has led to diversity in the color of discus fish.

Appearance

Discus fish have a disc-shaped body, strongly compressed laterally. On a small pointed head there are two large eyes and a small mouth.

The caudal fin is fan-shaped, the dorsal and anal fins stretch from the head to the caudal peduncle, the ventral fins are elongated. The fins are most often transparent with a small decoration in the form of colored spots to match the main color.

The color range of discus fish is varied, but always spectacular due to its richness and patterns in the form of stripes and spots.

On average, fish reach 15-20 centimeters, but adult specimens of 25 and even 30 centimeters are found.

Basic rules for feeding discus fish

Rules for feeding discus fish:

• adults should not be overfed;
• you need to diversify your diet;
• remove leftover food from the aquarium in a timely manner;
• an excess of vitamin supplements is more dangerous than a lack of them;
• “young animals” can and should be overfed (feed more often, but in small portions);
• Do not skimp on quality feed.

Ready-made mixtures from the German company Discus Food may seem expensive, but the cost of preparing high-calorie and balanced food for discus fish yourself will be the same, if not more. And most importantly, there is no guarantee that the food you prepare yourself will actually meet all the requirements.

Attention! The main rule is that it is better to underfeed than to overfeed! The fish easily tolerates even a week-long hunger strike. Moreover, lack of food often triggers the reproduction mechanism.

What to feed adolescent discus fish

The fry begin to be given artemia on the fifth day after birth. When feeding of the parental “porridge” stops and the adults are placed in a common aquarium, the juveniles are given food in small portions six times a day (more is possible, but this will not make the fry grow faster).

It is easier and safer to use soft granular food Artemia 50% or a special composition for fry Breeder Starter Food from the German manufacturer Discus Food for this purpose.

Best food for discus fry

Breeder Starter I & II

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Artemia 50% Flat Granulate

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Artemia 50% Brine Shrimps Soft Granulate

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Diseases and prevention

Proper care of discus fish guarantees their long life in an aquarium - about 10 years. But during their life they may suffer from various diseases. Below are the most common diseases.

Damage by fluke worms

With this defeat, the fish become very restless and timid. Other characteristic signs are heavy breathing, swimming (bobbing), which is not typical for discus fish, refusal to eat, and the appearance of sores on the body.

You can get rid of these parasites using baths with formaldehyde or a specialized product that is sold in the store. Course – 1 week.

Hexamitosis

The disease manifests itself in loss of appetite and darkening of the body. Sick fish try in every possible way to retire.

The problem is solved by gradually increasing the water temperature in the aquarium to +35 degrees Celsius. Ciprofloxacin (500 mg per 50 liters of volume) and Metronidazole (250 mg per 35 liters) are also added to the water.

Dropsy

A clear sign of this disease is the lethargy of the fish and a swollen abdominal cavity. In addition, there is a loss of appetite up to a complete refusal to eat. In this case, there is a high probability of death, but the remaining individuals can be saved by establishing a normal diet and optimal living conditions.

If you have a discus fish, then you must organize appropriate housing conditions. These are quite capricious fish that are very demanding on the quality of water and food, temperature and other parameters. But if you do everything correctly, they will delight you with their bright colors for quite a long time.

How many times a day should you feed your discus?

Adult discus are given food twice a day, sometimes more often, and juveniles under six months old - five to six times. Usually fish take food in the middle layers or near the bottom. This species rarely feeds near the surface of the water, but there are unique individuals that want to eat only from the hands of their beloved owner.

You can determine the required amount of food by the speed at which it is eaten - in 5-10 minutes, all food should be destroyed. If there is too much food, it decomposes in warm water and deteriorates its composition (ammonia pollution increases).

How to choose?

The popularity of the fish has given rise to a variety of breeding forms. In order not to get confused when choosing, it is worth remembering a few rules:

• For beginners, it is better to stick to common, established breeds. If the species is rare or completely new, it will be more demanding in maintenance.
• Those who are buying discus for the first time should choose fish that are 3 months or more old, but not less, since 1-2 month olds require a lot of long-term care.
• You should not focus on the brightness of the fry’s color: some sellers flavor them with vitamins and red cyclops, which affects the development of the color scheme. Regular fry acquire adult colors by the age of one year.
• There is no need to take the cheapest discus: they may turn out to be outbred, defective or unhealthy.
• When purchasing any fish, you need to pay attention to its health. If the discus has a crooked mouth, damaged fins, swollen eyes, or damage to the skin, it is definitely not worth buying, even at the best price.
• You can and even need to buy fish “at home”: this way you can see the contents of discus fish with your own eyes, the color of the fry’s parents and, in general, enlist the support of a specialist in breeding this type of fish.

This is interesting! To be more confident in choosing the desired color, it is worth taking individuals 7-9 months old: they already have “adult” patterns and colors.

What food is suitable for these fish?

Food for the inhabitants of the aquarium is conventionally divided into three large groups:

• live food;
• ground meat;
• frozen mixtures;
• dry mixes.

It would be wrong to recommend only one type. The popular live food of bloodworms and tubifex can be infected as they live in waste-contaminated waters. The hope for washing and freezing is not justified.

Frozen bloodworms may contain pathogenic bacteria that are insensitive to low temperatures, and washing the bloodworm is a tedious and often ineffective task. It is impossible to completely get rid of infections using such methods.

In addition, there is evidence that live food has a bad effect on the reproductive function of discus fish. Breeders do not recommend giving it to potential breeders, but admit that it is impossible to feed the fry, from the moment they switch to independent feeding until full adulthood, without tubifex and bloodworms.

Attention! Live food is suitable for fry and adolescents, but is not recommended for adults.

How to properly feed discus fish with minced meat

Many aquarists prefer to give the “kings of the aquarium” minced meat consisting of:

• beef or veal heart stripped of fat and films - 60-70%;
• mixtures of squid, beef liver, shrimp (preferably frozen, not boiled), and sea (!) fish - about 10% of each component.

All products are passed through a meat grinder, divided into small portions and placed in the freezer. It is more convenient to make small flat cakes from minced meat - they are easier to use.

Feeding discus only minced meat is not recommended. From time to time you need to add a small amount of vitamin supplements: juice from a mixture of bell peppers, carrots, dandelion leaves, lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens, and vegetables. It is much safer to use ready-made Discus Food supplements - they contain the correct amount of vitamins and microelements.

Can discus fish be fed dry food?

Dry mixtures are usually balanced and easy to use. They don’t need to be defrosted or soaked, and you don’t have to worry about nutritional value or additional feeding. But long-term feeding of discus with dry food is not welcomed by breeders. These are too monotonous food.

Connoisseurs compare dry mixes to high-calorie, but very boring nutrition bars. Yes, you can satisfy your hunger with them, but no one will eat them all the time. Even the best dry discus food from Discus Food needs to be varied with soft granular mixtures and additives from the same manufacturer.

Live food for discus fish

The tubifex is a thin, reddish-colored annelid worm. Lives in silt, most often where sewage flows into a body of water. For growing youth, annelids are very useful. They need to be chopped and given to the fry until they begin to take minced meat or large brine shrimp.

When purchasing worms, it is important to evaluate their activity: the tubifex worm’s body must respond quickly to the slightest shaking of the container. If the reaction is sluggish or absent, then the quality is not very high.

To use annelids safely, they are washed many times in clean water and waited several days so that the intestines have time to clear the contents. But even after this, daily washing is necessary. Worms like to clump into a ball, which must be carefully broken up with a stream of water. Then they wait until the worms sink to the bottom and carefully drain the top layer of water with impurities. Store tubifex in a cool place in a flat container with a small amount of water, so that part of the lump remains above the surface.

Attention! Tubifex feeders are mud feeders and love fecal-laden waters. Their intestines may contain inclusions that are dangerous for the “kings”. Annelids should not be frozen.

Feeding discus bloodworms

Bloodworms are the red larvae of mosquitoes from the Chironomidae family. Fortunately, this species does not bite, i.e., if someone hatches from larvae that are not eaten in time, it will definitely not interfere with sleep. Bloodworms contain more than 60% protein, almost 10% fat and a lot of hemoglobin, which explains the red color. Hemoglobin is a complex protein high in iron that is essential for the delivery of oxygen.

After purchasing, the bloodworms must be rinsed well and placed in the freezer for a week. The optimal freezing temperature is 12°C. During this time, the pathogens will die, and quick freezing will preserve the shape, color and taste of the bloodworm. Only after such preparation can larvae be given to discus fish.

Is it possible to feed discus fish with bark?

Corethra is the translucent freshwater larva of the Corethra mosquito. It contains protein (more than 40%), fats (5.4%) and ash (4.5%). But the most important component is unsaturated fatty acids, which are responsible for reproductive function.

When purchasing a coretra, you need to evaluate its appearance. The larvae must be:

• alive;
• transparent;
• shiny;
• mobile.

You can store the larvae for up to 2 weeks on the bottom shelf of the general refrigerator compartment (it is coldest there). It is believed that koretra is the safest food. According to the observations of breeders, on such a diet, discus fish do not suffer from infectious and parasitic diseases.

But you can’t keep fish on this food alone. Koretra is given infrequently and in small quantities. From time to time it is necessary to diversify the feeding of the “kings” with various mixtures and vitamin supplements, for example, dietary supplements from Discus Food.

Attention! Koretra is a predator. It should not be put into an aquarium with fry: the prey and the hunter can change places.

Types of frozen food

Frozen food is produced in small briquettes sealed in a blister. They are usually inexpensive. The composition often includes: artemia (adults), spirulina, gammarius, daphnia, bloodworms, coretra, etc. There may be specialized formulations of one or two components.

Capricious “kings” may not like such a treat. In addition, there is a real danger that the mixture has been subjected to repeated freezing (careless transportation, delays at the border, etc.). That is, there is no guarantee of safety.

Artemia for discus

Artemia are fairly large crustaceans that are found in the salt water of lakes in Crimea, Siberia and Kazakhstan. Adults grow to 10-20 mm and can weigh 10-12 mg. The color of crustaceans varies from greenish to bright red, depending on habitat conditions. The main advantage of artemia is that it does not affect the quality of water and is almost completely absorbed.

Frozen food for aquarium fish

Today on the shelves (or rather, in the refrigerators) of pet stores you can see a lot of frozen food for aquarium fish, including frozen food for discus fish, in the form of blisters and other types of packaging. The latter most often represent the same minced meat for discus, prepared using production technologies and, accordingly, on a production scale. Should you buy this minced discus meat in the store or cook it yourself? - let everyone decide for themselves, based on their busyness... or laziness. When making your choice in favor of store-bought or homemade minced meat, remember the taste of homemade cutlets. Have you ever encountered store-bought frozen cutlets, even the most expensive ones, that turned out to be tastier than homemade ones? No to me... Regarding other types of frozen food for aquarium fish, these are the same bloodworms, daphnia, cyclops, grown brine shrimp, etc. Discus fish may eat them or they may refuse them. The latter may be due to the fact that they are simply not accustomed to this type of food, or they do not like it. But there may be another reason, and it is the most important (or rather, dangerous! for the health of discus fish) - frozen food could be subjected to repeated defrosting and subsequent freezing. This can easily happen during transportation, delays at customs, etc.

What to feed discus for bright colors

If to enhance the red color you can use food rich in carotene, such as carrots or bell peppers, for example, then a bright blue or turquoise color will require artificial mixtures. A recognized manufacturer of the best food for discus fish, the German company Discus Food offers for bright colors:

• Beef Heart V+ Color Paste (red and blue shades);
• additive D8 – Red Color Booster (red, yellow, orange);
• Dietary supplement D10 – Spotted Color Booster (blue and red).

Other products also contain ingredients needed to maintain and enhance color, such as Red Dream, Blue Dream or Golden Dream flakes.

The best food for brightly colored discus fish

Beef Heart Color Paste

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D8 – Red Color Booster

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D10 – Spotted Color Booster

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How to distinguish a male from a female

One of the common problems of aquarists is determining the sex of their pets. Discus fish are no exception in this regard. Finding out the sex when the fish are still small is almost impossible. The earliest stage when there is a chance to determine sexual characteristics is the moment they are distributed into pairs. Discus fish have rounded fins when they are young, making it difficult for an inexperienced person to distinguish them.

But there are still several criteria by which the sex of the fish is determined:

1. In adulthood, the female has a round fin, while the male has a spotted fin.
2. The male discus is larger than the female in size and brighter in color.
3. The female's anus is more rounded due to the presence of eggs (noticeable only during spawning).
4. The male's lips are larger so that he can protect his chosen one.

However, no one can accurately determine the sex of discus fish. When buying fish in a school, you can try to determine their sex after they split into pairs.

What is the best way to feed discus fish in a community aquarium?

Breeders believe that the right choice is combined feeding, including minced meat, dry mixtures and vitamin supplements. A few feeding rules:

1. You should not give tubifex to adults often. This is a very high-calorie food that leads to obesity and infertility.
2. Cooking minced meat yourself will not provide much savings. Fresh, high-quality products will be required, and a meat mixture alone is not enough for harmonious development.
3. Dry food from leading manufacturers is truly safe and balanced food. For example, German manufacturer Discus Food offers Super Growth flakes, which enhance color and are suitable for teenagers.

Sometimes aquarists feed fish with porridge or add a small amount of rice, semolina or corn grits to the minced meat. Cooking porridge for discus fish is different from the traditional method. The cereal is briefly steamed to swell, and then the porridge is washed under a strong stream of water to wash off the powdery substances. The easiest way to do this is in a tight net.

Breeding

You can write more than one article about discus breeding, and it is better for experienced breeders to do this. We will tell you in general terms.

So, they spawn, form a stable pair, but very easily cross with fish of other colors. Breeders use this to develop new, previously unknown types of color.

Fish eggs are laid on plants, driftwood, stones, decor; special cones are now sold that are convenient and easy to maintain.

Although spawning can be successful in hard water, the hardness must be no higher than 6° dGH for the eggs to be fertilized. The water should be slightly acidic (5.5 - 6°), soft (3-10° dGH) and very warm (27.7 - 31 °C).

The female lays about 200-400 eggs, which hatch in 60 hours. For the first 5-6 days of their lives, the fry feed on secretions from the skin produced by their parents.

DIY discus food

At home, minced meat is prepared in which several herbal additives are mixed with protein components of animal origin. Minced meat must contain:

• beef/veal heart without fat and films (pork is strictly prohibited!) – 200-300 gr.;
• unpeeled shrimp (preferably fresh frozen, not boiled) – up to 100 g;
• lean sea fish (sea bass fillet) – up to 100-120 g;
• cleaned squid meat – up to 100 g;
• ready-made frozen mixture of mussels, small octopus, squid and shrimp (sea cocktail) - about a third or less of a standard package.

The recipe may include additional components:

• red bell pepper (outer hard skin needs to be peeled); – 1-2 pcs.
• dill, spinach, parsley - one bunch each (less possible);
• medium-sized carrots – 1 pc.;

In addition, you can add crushed pumpkin seeds, dry food, brewer's yeast, ready-made liquid vitamins or vitamin supplements.

Constantly feeding minced beef heart does not justify itself. The fact is that the fat of warm-blooded fish does not melt at a temperature of 30°C (a comfortable temperature for discus fish), unlike liquid fish oil. As a result, some fats are not absorbed. But this does not mean that beef heart is prohibited. In high-quality German feeds, minced beef additives amount to up to 50%.

Advice! It is not recommended to feed discus minced meat “in one batch” for more than two months. The fish may stop taking food.

Popular types

In addition to several natural species, today in professional and amateur aquariums you can find several dozen selected forms.

Heckel's discus

The main tone of this fish is beige-pinkish. Nine dark vertical stripes are evenly distributed throughout the body. The most intense in color are the first (through the eye), the fifth (in the center) and the ninth (on the caudal peduncle). From head to tail there are thin horizontal lines of turquoise color. The eyes of the Heckel discus are black-brown with a yellow “ring” near the pupil.

Green (Ocean Green)

This discus has a greenish-brown body with nine dark vertical lines and a row of horizontal turquoise stripes. The fish also differ in their fins, which look like the feathers of a tropical bird.

Discus cobalt

Despite the name of the species, this discus does not always have a rich blue color: it varies from greenish to turquoise shades. This palette was formed due to the characteristics of the environment. Vertical stripes appear on the body, which become more and more invisible with age.

Blue diamond discus or diamond

The blue color of this breed can be paler or, on the contrary, more saturated. There are no stripes or spots on the body of the fish. In its natural environment, this discus takes on a greenish or metallic hue.

Pigeon blood discus (pigeon discus)

The cream scales of the Pigeon breeding form are densely strewn with bright or more muted orange wavy stripes. Sometimes they form pockets of light spots, in other cases - intricate labyrinths. The eyes are red. The breed was first bred by Thai breeder Kitty Panaitti in 1991.

Discus red turkis

One of the most popular and recognizable species. The turquoise color of the fish with a metallic tint is decorated with fiery red wriggling lines. Eye color – garnet.

This is interesting! Discus turkis changes color depending on its emotional state: a frightened individual becomes pale pink, an excited one “loses” its stripes and acquires a brown tint.

Discus snake skin

Another selective breed that appeared in Thailand in the late 1990s. Instead of the usual nine stripes, this discus has fourteen. The turquoise scales are mottled with thick orange or coral patterns, giving the color a snakeskin appearance.

Leopard

As a result of crossing the red turkis and the green discus, an interesting fish with snow-white scales appeared. Scarlet spots spread throughout the body of the fish, including the anal and ventral fins. This pattern is very reminiscent of a leopard print.

Discus alenquer

A rare aquarium species named after a Brazilian city. The color of discus varies throughout life: the scales of young individuals are brown, but with age they become red. Surprisingly, Alenker females bear brighter colors. There are clear dark stripes across the body; the head, back and abdomen are sometimes decorated with turquoise splashes.

Marlborough

This discus does not boast a unique pattern, but it stands out among others with its uniform scarlet color. Some individuals are born with a white head and tail. Sometimes Marlboro's fins have a dark shade or light, turquoise spots.

San Mera

The Singapore breeding form is similar to Marlboro, but on its head there are turquoise patches of varying saturation. The eyes, like those of most relatives, are red.

Brown

The body of this fish is brown with a reddish tint. All nine vertical stripes clearly appear on the scales, the first and last being the blackest. If no lines are visible, then the fish is sick or scared. The caudal fin is transparent, but the dorsal and anal fins are dark with turquoise stripes. Sometimes such strokes appear on the head.

Red card

The general background of the scales is snow-white, sometimes with a blue tint. The body of the discus has ornate scarlet, orange or yellow stripes of varying lengths. Sometimes the color forms spots near the caudal peduncle. Two large red eyes stand out on the light head of the fish.

Chess

Representatives of this species can be pale yellow, lemon, gold, red or scarlet. It got its name from the shape of the light spots on the body: they are a little more geometric, which is why breeders have an association with a chessboard. Closer to the anal and dorsal fin, bright stripes develop into vertical ones and form beautiful rays.

Red melon

This discus is completely scarlet, but differs from other similar species by its pleasant yellow tint. It manifests itself most clearly in the area of ​​the head and caudal peduncle. Sometimes this color is more faded or creamy.

Gold

This lemon fish is either completely covered in yellow, or white spots with a bluish tint of varying sizes appear on its body. The garnet eyes of the discus stand out even more against this background, although there are individuals with irises in the same tone.

Albino

This subspecies can also be with or without patterns. The main thing is the tiny amount of melanin in the body, which is why the fish acquires a white, sometimes translucent hue. Like all albinos, discus have bright red eyes.

Snow-white

Brought out at the end of the 20th century in Malaysia. White discus are distinguished by a delicate cream or snow-white color with virtually no stripes or specks. The main difference from an albino is the light iris.

Turquoise

Of all the discus, it is in this breed that green and blue dominate over brown or scarlet, which form subtle patterns. There are two varieties of turquoise discus: brown and red striped.

Black

A rare breeding form bred by the famous naturalist Heik Blecher. Most of the scales of this discus are dark blue, almost black. Sometimes characteristic blue patterns or scarlet areas appear on it, darkened by the main tone.

Orange

Discus oranges are not just orange: their color actually resembles ripe citrus, while the head is slightly yellower than the main color. The tail, as well as the edges of the dorsal and anal fins, are much darker and have a greenish-metallic tint.

Eruption

The combination of colors in the color of the fish is classic, but the pattern itself is unique. The body of the discus is dotted with many scarlet specks. In fry they are practically invisible, and the older the individual, the more of them appear on the scales.

Discus feeder

The simplest option - a ring on the surface - may not work: discus prefer to feed in the water column. Cone-shaped or hemispherical mesh structures are more suitable. You can also find automatic feeders on sale. They make life easier for owners, they are able to maintain a diet during the absence of the owner, but they are not cheap and can be capricious. Yes, and they are only suitable for dry mixtures.

Habitat in nature

Homeland in South America: Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, where they live in the Amazon and its tributaries. They were first introduced to Europe between 1930 and 1940. Earlier attempts were unsuccessful, but provided the necessary experience.

Previously, this species was divided into several subspecies, however, later studies have abolished the classification.

There are currently three known species that live in nature: green discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus), Heckel discus or red discus (Symphysodon discus). The third species, described relatively recently by Heiko Blecher, is the brown discus (Symphysodon haraldi).

Vitamins and vitamin-mineral complexes for discus fish

Monotonous food leads to gastrointestinal diseases, loss of appearance, and sometimes even more tragic consequences. It is necessary to give vitamin and mineral complexes, for example, D1 - Probiotics, D2 - Vitamin Booster, D3 - Mineral Booster, D4 - Vital Booster and other dietary supplements from the German brand Discus Food.

Theoretically, you can make a vitamin supplement yourself, but to do this you will have to select at least a dozen different components, and even calculate the correct ratio. Don’t think that the more vitamins or minerals, the better. Both a lack of any of the components and an excess are dangerous. To get a reliable result, it is easier to use ready-made mixtures.

Best Vitamins for Discus Dogs

D1 – Probiotics

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D2 – Vitamin Booster

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D3 – Mineral Booster

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Spirulina for discus

Spirulina is a representative of the most ancient inhabitants of our planet, blue-green algae. It contains proteins, essential amino acids, B vitamins, microelements, vitamins A, C, D. These algae contain 30 times more iron than spinach, and 25 times more beta-carotene than carrots. Spirulina is not suitable for constant feeding, but regular supplements will improve the health of the “kings of the aquarium”.

Difficulty in content

Discus should be kept by experienced aquarists and is certainly not a suitable fish for beginners.

They are very demanding, and even for some experienced aquarists they will be quite a challenge, especially in breeding.

The first difficulty that an aquarist faces after purchasing is acclimatization to a new aquarium. Adult fish tolerate a change of residence better, but even they are prone to stress. Large size, poor health, demanding maintenance and feeding, high water temperature for keeping, all these points need to be known and taken into account before you buy your first fish. You need a large aquarium, a very good filter, branded food and a lot of patience.

When purchasing fish, you need to be very careful, as they are prone to semolina and other diseases, and moving will cause stress and serve as a stimulus for the development of the disease.