The Best Tank Setup For Your Betta

When it comes to betta tank setup, size does matter. While most bettas can survive in very small containers, they will live long, quality lives only when placed in tanks no smaller than a gallon or two. Bettas have an organ called the "labyrinth", which allows them to breathe oxygen as humans do, and also allows them to survive outside water for longer periods of time. However, this does not give you the excuse to house your betta in a small jar. 

Actually, I find no problem with bettas being kept in small jars since most betta breeders in Thailand and other parts of Asia practice this with much success. The problem is if you cannot find the time to change the water of your betta's jar on a regular basis. Unlike with other aquarium fish, betta fish's water should be replaced at a more frequent basis if their long and flowy fins are to remain beautiful and vibrant. Therefore, if you want to choose the best tank setup for your betta, you should consider these essential things:

1.) Tank Size - Again, tank size matters. However, if you can't provide a tank larger than 5 gallons for your betta, you should be prepared to perform water changes every 3-5 days.

2.) Filtration - Bettas that are kept in tanks below 2.5 gallons can live without filtration. However, full water changes every 2-3 days are a requirement. If you house your bettas on tanks 5 gallons and up, you should get a filtration system since it is more difficult to perform full water changes on larger tanks.

3.) Heater - If you live in Asia like me, heaters are not necessary. However, if you live in countries that experience cold seasons, you definitely need a heater for your betta. Ideal temperature for a betta's water is between 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit. If you keep your fish in tanks smaller than 5 gallons, it would be ideal to get a small heater as regular sized heaters can heat up smaller tanks fast. Or, keep your tank in a warm room.

4.) Massive Water Changes - To give you an idea on how frequent you should change your betta's water, refer below:

Tank Size and Frequency of Water Change

Below 2.5 gallons- Every 2-3 days (100% water change)

2.5 to 5 gallons (Filtered/Unfiltered)- Every 3-5 days (100% water change)

5 gallons and up (Filtered)- Twice a month with 25% water changes once a week

5.) Accessories - I personally do not recommend adding accessories to tanks if you are keeping bettas with long and flowy fins such as halfmoons and crowntails. However, if you wish add accessories such as live or plastic plants, make sure they do not have very sharp or pointed edges that might tear your betta's fins. 

Like most breeders, I keep my 2.5 gallon betta tanks bare, with no pebbles (substrate), no plants, and no accessories whatsoever. The reason is that these accessories make tank cleaning very difficult. By leaving my tank bare, all I need to do when it's time to clean my betta's tank is siphon all the poop and dirt out and replace the water.

Aquarium Filtration System - Should You Consider Undergravel

There is no doubt that keeping your aquarium clean is crucial to the well-being of your fish and plant. The quality of the water is critical and whether your fish and plant thrives or not depends a lot on the condition of the water. Aquarium filter is essential to keep your tank clean and free from harmful toxin and wastes that accumulates over time.

One popular and widely used aquarium filtration system is the under gravel filter. As the name suggest, the filtration component is located beneath the gravel that is normally used as a form of substrate inside the fish tank. One drawback to this system is that you need to vacuum the gravel in the tank frequently. You need to do this to prevent waste particles and debris trap in the gravel from affecting the performance of the under gravel filter.

Some people perceive it as a hassle to replace this system as it involves major overhaul of the aquarium. You need to remove the gravel and almost everything along with it. The main advantage with under gravel filtration system is that it is quite efficient as well as easy to install and operate. You don't need to deal with stuff hanging on the back of your aquarium like some other filtration systems.

All the major components for this type of filtration system are concealed under the gravel with basically columns that run up the corners, which have one-way valves within them. You can increase the performance and efficiency of most under gravel system by adding a power-head filter.

A 'power-head' is basically the part of the filter that ejects water into the aquarium. Complimenting your under gravel filtration system with a power head is important because it facilitate the pushing of fresh, filtered water from the under gravel system back to your aquarium. Doing so will also produce oxygen bubbles into your fish tank and provide adequate oxygen to your fish.

It is important for you to keep your fish tank in clean condition. Your fish could easily contract disease, become ill and even perish as a result of a dirty and poorly maintain tank. Assembling together a good filtration system won't require much time and effort at all. It is quite easy to set up an under gravel filter. The best part of this filtration system is that it is located right down where the waste is, rendering it remarkably simpler to remove it from your aquarium thus keeping your tank clean all the time.

What You Need To Know About Your Discus Fish Tank

If you have the plan to keep or breed discus fish, or maybe you are already keeping them, this is the article that you must read through. What you are going to discover here are some great tips that you need to learn about your fish tank.

A lot of people may think that a fish tank is not something important in keeping their fish, but the fact is, an aquarium is the house for your fish just like your house to you. Therefore, it is the most basic aspect that you must start from in making your fish healthy and happy. So below are some of the great tips that can improve your knowledge about breeding discus fish...

1. The size of your tank must be adequate for your fish. This may sound simple; however, a lot of people make the mistake by keeping too little fish in a big tank or keeping too much fish in a small tank. The rule of thumb is to keep six or eight of them in a 20-gallon tank. You have to understand that discus fish can grow pretty big in size, just like a disc shape. Thus, it is always a wise choice to go for a bigger one than a smaller aquarium.

2. Do you know that this type of fish is shy and they like to be in a group? Thus, what you need to do is to keep them in a group. Always put at least 5 or 6 of them in the same tank to make them a group. And try to avoid putting the aquarium somewhere busy and noisy, such as the doorway. The passing traffic and noise may scare them and make them uncomfortable. You can also use plants and decoration in the tank to make them feel more comfortable. Furthermore, try to avoid direct sun shine on your tank because this will promote the growth of algae.

3. Finally, you need to understand whether you are keeping your discus fish for display or you intend to breed them. If you want to breed them, it is better to use a bare bottom tank without any substrate. However, if you keep them for display, you will have to decorate the tank and use substrate to make the aquarium beautiful. For instance, you can use small gravels as the substrate and try not to go for sand because it is difficult to clean.

These are some of the important tips that you need to know before you can make your fish happy and healthy. Always start from getting the right tank for your fish and then make it a great home for them.

Types of Systems for a CO2 Aquarium

CO2 Aquariums, also known as natural aquariums or planted aquariums, are aquariums containing actual plants growing inside the aquarium. A lot individuals are fond of this look better as it is authentic in place of using fake plants.

The CO2 comes into the picture when you have begun to decide which plants you'd like to grow. The aquarium can get a small amount of CO2 exhaled from your fishes' gills yet plants are dependent on the stronger levels that are happened upon in their original habitat. As a result injection is nearly indispensable for plant progression. Quite a few of the lower light plants need little or no supplementary carbon dioxide yet some of the plants that need more light will need supplementary CO2 to allow them multiply and succeed.

CO2 is added to the aquariums by way of a bunch of strategies and styles. You could just attain tablets that add carbon dioxide though they typically aren't suggested due to the fact that the carbon dioxide addition ought to be continuing. Employing a carbon dioxide arrangement an aquarium might be consistently injected with a steady stock of CO2.

The 1st of the 3 techniques we will recommend is a Bio-System. This method is often mentioned to initial time CO2ers as it is a breeze and fun to do. A bio-system is assembled by working with a container and combining sugar, yeast and water. All of the essentials work together with water to construct carbon dioxide. The lion's share of participants add their own leveraging a juice bottle though you can easily acquire systems for approximately $25.

Another is a type of system is a Mechanical System. A mechanical system is similar to the bio system except that it contains a small amount of mechanical elements - which explains the title. Instead of creating the CO2 on its own it has bottled carbon dioxide gas and automatic valves to constrain the release.

And the final is a CO2 Electrolysis System. An electrolysis system contains electricity to steadily convert a carbon block into carbon dioxide. This is by far the least common of the types of systems.

Beware that that depending on which plants you put to use you will possibly not even have to get a system. It is often recommended that you chance it without to see how appropriately your plants succeed previous to adding time and money to a CO2 system.

Health Benefits of a Freshwater Aquarium

Health is Wealth. Do you have a stressful life, high blood pressure, insomnia? Is your child suffering from hyperactivity disorder. Are you tired of continuous consultations, clinic visits and allopathy treatment. Then it is time you try socio-therapy. For years dogs, cats, birds and many other types of social animals are used for this type of therapy and have shown positive results. How about fish or fresh water aquariums? Does an aquarium pet therapy have any beneficial health merits?

Let's study the Health Benefits of Freshwater Aquarium

Virtually any aquarium, from large to small, will have a benefit. Studies going back as far as the late 80's have shown that gazing at aquarium fish reduces stress and subsequently lowers blood pressure. Pennsylvania university researchers reported that watching fish swimming in a home aquarium lessens stress and lowers high blood pressure.

Researchers concluded that people watching fresh water aquariums with bubbles, pebbles and plants benefit a lot as compared to no fish aquarium

Ecologist Alan Bech, director of the university's Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society research revealed that "Blood pressure drops with fishless fish tanks, but it doesn't drop as much and it creeps back up faster. With fish in the tanks, you truly get relaxation."

Fresh water aquarium: Can it make a difference

Researchers have compared the effects of fishless vs. fish filled aquariums, and no aquarium vs. having a freshwater aquarium. In all cases, having an aquarium reduces blood pressure though, studies show greater reduction in blood pressure when there were fish in the tank, vs pleasingly decorated fishless tanks. Even watching a video tape, dvd, cd, pictures, paintings of fish has been proven to have therapeutic effects and multiple health benefits.

Proven Health Benefits

Significant blood pressure reduction was observed in Seniors who were provided with freshwater aquarium filled with fish. Watching fish calms children suffering from hyperactivity disorder to a great extent. Studies also proved that Dental patients too benefit from the aquarium. They required less pain medication after having watched fish in the office.

Research shows Alzheimer patients experiencing a variety of health benefits from watching freshwater aquariums. At Purdue University, researchers found that displaying tanks of brightly colored fish may curtail disruptive behaviors and improve eating habits of people with Alzheimer's disease. Their diet increased and required fewer supplements after an aquarium was placed in the dining room. They also exhibited less physically aggressive behaviors.

Nursing Professor Nancy Edwards Purdue News August 1999 reports 60 individuals residing in specialized units in three Indiana nursing homes, who were exposed to the fish tanks appeared to be more relaxed and alert. They ate up to 21 percent more food than they had before the introduction of the fish tanks which is an average increase of 17.2 percent."

So let's take advantage of the stress-relieving benefits of aquarium fish whenever, and wherever we can!It's therefore a little wonder these days that physician offices, dental clinics and waiting rooms for counselors keep an aquarium in the waiting room.

nformation Guideline on Live Aquatic Plants to Be Used for Your First Freshwater Aquarium

Know thy freshwater aquarium plants...

Plants are one of the most essential need for a freshwater aquarium due to their ability to release life-giving oxygen as well as serve as food for herbivorous species of fish. It is therefore, vital to select appropriate species of aquarium plants for your freshwater aquarium.

Plants serve the purpose of providing a natural habitat and develop an organic aquarium. Habitat preferences of fishes vary as per their species. This makes it very important for the aquarist to know about the native habitat of their fish. The selection of freshwater aquarium plants should suit the species of fish that it houses.

Knowing the factors to be considered while selecting aquarium plants

Plants need sunlight to generate oxygen. Freshwater aquarium plants are submerged in fish tank within four walls and may not get enough sunlight. It is therefore essential to have appropriate lighting. Lighting as a substitute of sunlight helps in the photosynthesis process to supply nutrition to the plant and release oxygen and should therefore be in optimal proportion. Nevertheless, excessive or harmful lighting can accelerate the growth of algae in your tank causing more maintenance issues. A good equation to consider will be approximately 2 watts per gallon of water. Aquatic lighting is therefore a science in itself.

Layout or arrangement of plants in your freshwater aquarium too, is an important factor to be considered. Depending upon their individual species and rate of growth you could choose where you want to place them in your tank. A good strategy is to keep plants with slower growth rate at the front of the tank to allow maximum visibility without pruning. Thereafter, place the medium growth rate plants in the centre or middle succeeded by the rapidily growing plants at the back. This has to be done keeping in mind the different levels of water your aquarium fish would like to enjoy in their natural habitat.

Another important factor to be considered while selecting aquarium plants for your fish tank is the type of substrate they need for their own survival. Depending upon the species plants may need smaller or larger and rougher substrate for their roots to latch to. Few of them can even flourish in sand.

Cleanliness measures for a healthy aquarium

If you choose live plants you will want to consider the type of plant vs. the type of fish. Herbivores are expected to naturally graze on certain plants and could have uprooted a few during lunch which could be found as floating debris thereby polluting the tank water. An education from local pet store specialist could help you in selecting appropriate plant species to go in conjuntion with the type of fish for your aquarium.

So how do I start?

Simple...as a beginner start with plants that are easy to maintain.

Further to same before plantation, a thorough rinse could avoid any foreign organisms, insects and or animals from entering and contaminating aquarium environment. If avoided, this could result into a disease outbreak resulting into the death of livestock which is more valuable compared to the tank, filtration system and plants.

As you gain confidence and become more educated in knowing more species add or replace the plants in your tank with better ones. Keep on observing the changes in the behaviour of the inhabitants. At the end of the day all these efforts are to keep both fish and ourselves happy and relaxed.

There Is More Than One Way To Build An Aquarium - Even Without Fish

Aquariums are pretty amazing. They are essentially taken for granted by many (although still fascinated) but if you stop to think about it, a fish tank is an entire ecosystem built into one box, complete with life giving water, food, bacteria, plant life, and more. To think that anyone anywhere has the power to build and support one of these amazing eco-system is mind blowing. In a way we are playing God to the fish, coral, and the entire habitat. The fish are usually merely ONE of the living things being supported by your aquarium though.

The variety of fish is vast and there is an incredibly complex variety of fish species, but it's actually possible to create a tank that has no fish in it and still enjoy it immensely! Many people look at fish tanks in stores and only really pay close attention to living things that moving around in the tank, the fish. The reality is that some tanks are completely alive. With the exception of the rocks (wait, some rocks may not be rocks but living creatures own their own) everything in an aquarium can be alive.

You could effectively create a tank that is 80% life and only 20% inanimate objects: the tank itself, rocks on the bottom (pebbles), any decorative items such as a treasure chest, fake plants, and other items. At first glance and without the foresight/knowledge, it may be hard to figure out what life is in the aquarium. There are actually quite a few forms of life you can put in your tank.

* coral for the rocks and underwater mountains 

* water plants that help clean the water 

* marine algae that forms naturally 

* and the ever present "sucker fish" to eat and clean the algae

As you can see, it's pretty easy to have an aquarium that is full of life but doesn't contain what we normally think of as fish. You can, of course always add fish to this equation to add even more (or more obvious) life to the mix.

Some forms of plants are very active and move around much like a fish. The tentacles of some plants are fascinating to watch and although at first you may thing the plant is swaying back and forth due to the currents in the tank but the reality is that the plant itself is moving on it's own and it is creating the currents in an otherwise standing water tank. The benefits of this are that the water is essentially "stirred" up and makes sure that debris is filtered properly.

Essentials Before You "Fish" Around For An Aquarium

People love the companionship of pets. Pets tend to have a symbiotic relationship with people and although they tend to be self-sufficient (cats, hamsters, etc...) so long as you provide an environment they can thrive in and provide the essentials of life they can't get on their own. 

Some pets take more work than others to take care of but one of the nice things about fish and aquariums are that other than having to clean the tank once a month, feeding them daily, and allowing a filtering system to clean the water automatically, they are essentially worry free.

One thing that makes fish a lot of fun is that you can build and maintain, even change their environment whenever you want to change its appeal (to both you and the fish). Human nature states that we're creative beings with the ability to manifest what we want through cause and effect. A fish, however, simply lives in the environment, a non sentient being that requires us to take care of it. 

This symbiotic relationship mean that we need each other and can provide one another some relaxation and intrigue. A fish can be an intriguing pet, but as a care taker we not only are required to make sure the fish can survive in his new aquarium, but we can also build it for our own pleasure, eye candy and meditative calm.

Although the aquarium is designed to assure the fish survives and is happy, it's built as much for our enjoyment as it is for the fish. This means that building an aquarium can be a great therapeutic tool, a way to teach children responsibility, and to bring a new dimension to a room, bringing life and beauty together. 

There's just something cool about a fish tank that makes people want to look and observe the simple life of a fish. There are many types of fish to choose from, some are friendly towards other fish, some with only specific non predatory fish, and others must be alone.

When choosing what type of fish you want, you need to consider how much your willing to put into taking care of the fish. There are many species of fish that require nothing more than a cleaning system (filter for the water) and a thorough cleaning monthly (rocks, internal components of the scenery in the tank), maybe even bi-weekly depending on the fish and the amount of fish in the tank. 

There are also fish that require a specific environment such as water with salt in it (saltwater fish), a specific balance of chemicals in the water, a consistent temperature (cold or warm), and others that require special care that goes far beyond just set it and forget it until the cleaning.

It's best to do your homework on the fish you want BEFORE you start figuring out what kind of tank you want. If you get the wrong tank, it is more difficult to get the water balanced correctly and you could kill the fishes. 

Fish are fascinating, and you may want to start out with the easy type to take care of and a small tank. You can evolve into the different types of fish, but be sure to get different tanks for different fish that require specific environmental controls as stated above. There is much to learn about fish. They are not just benign creatures, they are full of life and experience emotions just like we do. Learning about fish is a wonderful experience, and the fish depends on you for it's happiness.

Discus Fish Care Essentials

With regards to discus fish care, it can be a really complex job to ensure that your fish are pleased with their environment, making sure they have every thing they require, discus aren't usually suggested for newbie aquarists but in the event you want to give it a go, then you will find some essential elements which you need to think about with regards to discus fish care, and probably the most essential element for ensuring the well being of your discus fish is the water.

Discus fish are from the Amazon River and so they're used to warmer and much more acidic waters. The perfect temperature for the water in a discus tank is about 26-31 C for grownup fish and for child discus and baby discus, the perfect temperature is at 31 C. it's essential for your water to become soft and acidic having a pH lever of in between 5.5 and 6.5, this really is a perfect pH degree for wild discus to keep them happy.

Numerous aquarists believe the water inside a discus tank needs to be replaced frequently (this will be the exact same with any fish tank) but in the event you have a nicely planted tank that consists of sufficient filtration, lights and bottom dwelling fish to clear up the mess that discus deposit following consuming food, then this will make the tank a great deal cleaner and also the keep the water clearer for extended periods. With regards to the vegetation along with other fish which you consider to keep together with your discus fish, you need to select fish and vegetation to compliment the discus to ensure that they're in a position to thrive.

With regards to captive discus which have already been bred, then it's feasible for them to adapt to tougher water which tends to make discus fish care that bit simpler. Captive discus can survive in water having a pH stability of as much as 6.8 (this isn't appropriate if you're trying to breed discus, nevertheless, soft and acidic water is greatest for breeding) once the pH stability is reduced then it safeguards the discus from harmful toxins which permits the discus to reside in conditions which are nearly the exactly the same as where they had came from.

It's essential to be aware that a pH degree which drops below 5 can inhibit the development of helpful bacteria which may exist within the filter. So with regards to discus care you need to keep in mind that the temperature and also the pH stability of the water is extremely essential any drop in the pH can trigger the discus to get sick and may even cause them to die, that is why that it isn't appropriate for inexperienced fish keepers to try to breed discus fish, nevertheless all of us should learn exactly how, if you're truly thinking about keeping your personal discus aquarium, make sure to study up on all the info that's around for you on discus care.

Aquarium Design - Rocks

One of the key ingredients of any aquarium design is rock. Properly chosen, prepared and positioned rocks can transform an otherwise clinical setup environment into an attractive replica of actual natural habitat of the fish and plant.

It is important to note that rocks are not all identical in terms of composition nor are they all suitable for your aquarium. It is important for you to do some tests to check if the rocks are safe before you dump them into your fish tank. To a certain extent, the type of rocks that you can safely use depends on the type of fish and plant species.

The recommended type of rocks for freshwater aquarium are collectively known as inert rocks. This group of rocks includes basalt, obsidian, coal, quartz, sandstone and shale. As the name suggest, this class of rock does not affect water chemistry. It is a safe choice for freshwater aquarium.

Calcareous rocks alter the pH level and raise hardness of the water. This is in direct contrast to inert rock that is known to be aquarium safe. Some calcareous rock varieties include chalk, limestone and marble. These types of rocks are good for hard water or brackish aquariums particularly if the intention is to raise the pH level or hardness of the water without having to resort to chemical treatment.

How To Test The Rock

There is a simple way to determine if a rock is safe for your aquarium. Here is what you ought to do. Firstly, fill a bucket with water from a source that your normally use for instance tap water or preferably old aquarium water.

Note down the pH, hardness, nitrates and the phosphates level of the water. Put the rock into the bucket and let it soak for a week or so and then test the water again. Compare the readings before and after the soaking. If the subsequent readings do not deviate much from the original readings, the rock is not likely to adversely affect your aquarium.

Another simple test is what is called the' vinegar test'. Put a few drops of white vinegar on the rock. The rock is deemed calcareous if the solution foams. You should not use this rock unless your intention is to alter the water chemistry.

How To Prepare The Rock

Once you have confirmed that the rock is aquarium safe, the first thing that you need to do is to disinfect it. You need to get rid of pathogens that might reside within the rock crevices. Start by brushing and rinsing debris off the rock surface. Next, cook it in hot water and allow it to dry in the sun before placing it in the aquarium.

Choosing suitable rocks for your aquarium design and decoration is not a difficult task. All that is required of you is some knowledge on how to test the rock to ensure it does not alter the water chemistry that may affect your fish and plant.

Maintaining Cichlid's Water

If you're still a beginner in the hobby of raising and keeping cichlids, the seemingly complicated specifications of water chemistry may have you worried. However, believe it or not, obtaining and maintaining the correct water chemistry for your cichlid fish may be less complicated than you think. There are three important properties that need to be measured and adjusted in order to give your cichlids the most ideal water chemistry possible. Those three are pH, GH, and KH.

pH 

Having the correct pH balance in your cichlid's water is probably the most important part of good water chemistry. Your water's pH balance describes whether it is more acidic, more alkaline, or just plain neutral. If your water tests for a pH balance of seven, this means it is perfectly neutral - an ideal balance for most fish. Any number greater than seven means it has an alkaline balance, and any number less than seven means it is acidic.

Even the slightest changes in the pH balance of your water can upset your delicate cichlids so try to keep a stable level. If you need to make adjustments, be sure that you don't raise or lower the level by more than a third of a point per day. Keep in mind that each number on the pH scale signifies a difference of ten times more or less acidity or alkalinity than the numbers adjacent to it. A reading of six - just one point less than a neutral seven - means your water is ten times more acidic.

General Hardness (GH) 

The hardness of your water is measured by the amount of calcium and magnesium it contains. Many African cichlids are happiest in an aquarium with a GH level that hovers somewhere between 160 and 320 parts per million. Because calcium and magnesium do not keep for very long in water, your aquarium's GH level will steadily drop if not manually adjusted. There are various scales used to measure water hardness so make sure to determine which of them your testing kit is using before judging the results.

Carbonate Hardness (KH) 

The carbonate hardness level of your water describes the level of carbonates and bicarbonates it contains. It measures your water's ability to keep a stable pH level, which, as we know, is crucial to the survival of your cichlids. With a sufficiently high KH level, your water will maintain its pH balance even through various changes. The right amount of carbonates and bicarbonates acts like a vacuum cleaner, absorbing any harmful additives before they affect the acidity of your precious water. A good KH range is usually somewhere between 180 to 240 parts per million.

Testing 

It's important to test your aquarium's water for these three properties to ensure that your fish are as healthy as they can be. Having the correct levels in all three of these categories will contribute to happier, prettier cichlids that will live longer, more natural lives.

One of the most accurate water testing kits is the API liquid test kit, which comes with a number of different tests for various minerals. As a rule, liquid drop test kits are generally of better quality than the cheaper but less accurate test strips.

How to Adjust and Maintain pH and KH 

Because cichlids are so vulnerable to even the slightest changes in their water chemistry, if you need to adjust any of these levels, it's important to do so slowly. Adding one teaspoon of baking soda for every five gallons of water in your tank can help to slowly begin raising its pH and KH balance if needed, but make sure that you add it slowly(too fast can harm the fish). This should be dissolved ahead of time in a glass of aquarium water.

Each time you do a water change, you will need to add 1 teaspoon of baking soda for every 5 gallons that you take out. For example, if you take out 30 gallons of water, you will need to put 6 teaspoons of baking soda in. This should also be dissolved before adding it to the aquarium.

Lowering your pH balance is much trickier as you first need to obliterate the carbonates and bicarbonates in the water, after which you can then lower the pH. Driftwood and sodium biphosphate both contain acids that will get the job done nicely, but be sure to keep a close eye on your water. After you are finished the process, restore your water's KH balance with crushed coral, limestone, or oyster shell.

Caring for Your Discus Fish

Discus are a popular tropical fish species to keep in the home. If looked after they can live for quite a few years but on average it is four to five. There are some key tips for keeping Discus Fish in good condition. Some of these are typical to all tropical fish and some are specific to Discus.

As they are quite a large fish, they need a lot of space and a large tropical fish tank should be used. The size will vary depending on how many fish you intend to keep but a tank of at least 40 gallons should be used.

The temperature needs to be kept at a fairly constant and Discus like it quite hot (about 82-86 deg Fahrenheit). To maintain this temperature, the tank should be kept away from sources of cold and heat such as draughts from windows and external doors, direct sunlight and fires or radiators. A reliable aquarium heater should be used, and if you have a large tank it is worth having more than one to distribute the heat evenly and as a back up.

The first time you fill the fish tank it should be left for two to three weeks for the filters to settle in and the water should be treated with a chemical agent. Any fish tank equipment, ornaments or gravels need to be thoroughly washed a few times, to remove dirt and bacteria, before placing them in the water.

Discus Fish will eat a variety of foods including flakes and frozen shrimp.

The tropical fish tank should be cleaned regularly and as Discus are a large fish, they produce a lot of waste so the water should be changed, or at least partially changed on a weekly basis to ensure a healthy environment. It is also a good idea to use a large and efficient filter to as Discus need very clean water.

Discus are a communal, and generally non-aggressive species and several can be kept together. Ideally if you intend to add any new fish to the aquarium, they should be kept in a separate quarantine tank for a few days and observed for any signs of disease or other issues before introducing them into the main fish tank with other fish. Other tropical fish can be kept in the same tank but it is best to avoid other large fish or fast swimmers. Bottom feeding catfish make an ideal tank companion.

Discus's live on average four to five years but may last longer if you look after them well.