How to make sure your discus thrive

Their Environment    

 In order for your Discus to thrive and develop properly, a well planted tank in soft water is essential. At the Windsor fish hatchery we recommend a tank not smaller than 100ltrs, at the hatchery we sell a 50cms tall tank that is only 2 ft wide, its the perfect size for discus.

 Otherwise any tank bigger than 100ltrs is perfect, discus need space and thick clusters of tall plants, the lateral compression of the discus body allows it to slip in and out of thickets of tall thin plants quite easily. The vertical barred pattern of the discus provides it with good camouflage among reedy plants or sunken tree branches. Sword plants are a great plant for the discus tank, we sell a number of different plants at the Windsor fish hatchery which you could use in your discus Aquarium.

 Soft acid water is also essential, 6.5pH, soft water is achieved by adding lots of driftwood.  You can test the water to see if it is soft or hard, at the hatchery we have the test kit and the additives to soften the water if you need to.

 Aquarium placement is quite important to the habits and temperament of the discus. If the room is well lite by natural light you wont need the tank light on for as long, don't put the tank in front of a window however the temperature and the amount of light will be a problem. An area in the home that is relatively quite is best. 

Discus must be kept at a temperature of 84 Fahrenheit or more. In degrees Celsius that is 28.8 which is the lowest temperature we keep our discus in at the hatchery. Never allow the temperature to go below 28.8 as this change will cause the discus to become sickly or to go on a hunger strike. An increase in temperature can break a hunger strike                                                                                           

maintenance of the Discus Aquarium

Discus do exceptionally well with frequent water changes, since changing the water helps destroy harmful bacteria, removes harmful waste products and will increase the appetite of the discus. Make sure the replacement water is the same temperature as that of the tank or a couple of degrees higher.

Keeping the filters clean is important in maintaining a healthy discus tank. Also periodically wash off any other items utilized in the tank. Check the plants are doing well and remove any dead plant.

Corydoras catfishes should be kept in the discus tank to pick up uneaten food that may settle on the bottom of the aquarium

 Foods and Feeding

Discus can be fed a variety of foods to keep them healthy and interested in what is offered to them. live foods will be readily accepted and devoured.live Daphnia can be cultivated and fed in late winter through to november. Brine shrimp can be bought from Aquariums, there are many types of worms that you can cultivate and feed.

Frozen foods for discus are readily available at the hatchery, we have specialized frozen discus food, brine shrimp, worms and different types of protein enriched foods

Dried and process foods for discus contain protein, vitamins and minerals. Vitamins increase appetite and induce early development of the discus. We have various brands at Windsor fish hatchery enriched foods and liquids. 

Adult fish should be feed twice daily, Only an amount of food that can be consumed in 2 minutes. Any food not consumed must be removed after each meal so that the water does not become fouled. 

Some discus will indulge in self imposed fasts. There is some internal mechanism that regulates the time and quantity to eat. A discus might consume food well for several months and then suddenly stop eating for a period of a couple of months.

What to do with your discus while on holidays?

 About two weeks before your go begin to lower the temperature gradually to 79F, 26 Celsius, this will decrease the appetite of your discus, so you don't need someone there everyday. Two days before the trip do a 50% water change using tap water and water ager. Check you pH the following day and adjust if you need to. 

 You will need a friend to come over twice a week to feed the discus, put the amount to be fed in a clip lock bag and mark the bags with the dates to be fed and put all your other food away. That way the discus wont get over fed while you are away. Remember to tell the discus sitter to remove any uneaten food after a few minutes.  

 If there is natural sunlight coming into the room it is not necessary to keep the tank light on. Sword plants don't mind low light for short periods of time. If the room is dark during the daytime, connect a timer to the light. 

Sexing Discus

 The most accurate way of determining the sex is to look at the breeding tube on your discus, use a magnifying glass and observe, the females will appear to be broader and rounder, while the male's is more pointed.

www.windsorfishhatchey.com.au Open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays) 

752 George st south Windsor