Perhaps the ultimate status symbol for a freshwater fish keeper looking to say to the world, “I am experienced and worthy of this species,” the Discus Fish family (Family Symphysodon) is a striking one to behold.
Yes, yes, everyone loves to refer to them as the King of the Aquarium. But they aren’t aggressive, so if it isn’t their behavior that makes them top of the heap, what is?
They are expensive to buy and extremely difficult to care for. This means anyone who is pondering the acquisition of Discus Fish had better be on their A-Game when it comes to tank management, water quality, and scrupulous tank cleaning standards.
But as a shoaling species, you can’t just acquire one; you really need more like 8 – 10. They are large too, so factor in a huge tank and a shoaling group, and the costs will add up. They are indeed not for the faint of heart.
Their beauty and almost limitless color variations are what make them so spectacular and much admired.
Yet another Cichlid native to the Amazon, they are found in the wild flood plains where water flow is moderate to low, and they school and shoal happily.
Two types are more typically available from suppliers for the hobby of the five species of Discus out there. Usually, you will see the Common Discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) and Heckel’s Discus (Symphysodon discus).
We’ll look at the characteristics, care, and pitfalls to watch out for when it comes to keeping a healthy school of Discus Fish.
Discus Fish Behavior
Considered a peaceful, gentle giant of the hobby, these fish resemble a pancake with fins but with a lot more color! They aren’t your typical Cichlid in nature, though.
They aren’t strong swimmers, which is why they avoid strong currents and cling to areas where river flow is settled with debris to slow the water movement down. Factor in their huge round flat surface; they can easily be inadvertently bandied about in strong currents just like a paddle.
They prefer to avoid confrontation and will hide instead of dealing with other fish aggression head-on.
Being a schooling/shoaling species, they must be kept with others of their kind for their psychological health and well-being. Within the school, they establish a hierarchy like most other Cichlid schools do and will compete with each other.
Their highly social nature requires their group community for a successful tank, and it’s always best to source them together at the same time from one supplier where they are already established as a healthy group. Your ideal ratio is a few males and the rest females to avoid stress during the breeding season for the females who can become harassed.
They prefer the open space of the middle levels of the tank but can be found just about anywhere if they are happy and stress-free.
Discus Fish Lifespan
If you cater to the needs of your Discus Fish, you could expect them to live for, on average, around 10 years. They can live longer though, 15 years is not unheard of if you master their conditions.
We will discuss more on tank requirements a little later in this article.
Discus Fish Appearance
As one of the largest freshwater fish you can acquire and house in a hobby tank, you should be prepared that at full maturity, they usually reach up to 10 inches in length, and because of their round shape, almost 10 inches in diameter.
Rounded dorsal and anal fins keep the circular shaping all around.
They usually have prominent red eyes, but they can also be yellow, black, and albino.
The color combinations are almost endless, but varieties are quite descriptive when it comes to sourcing.
Checkerboard Discus is popular because they have a mottled turquoise overlaying a deep red base.
Some other varieties that are popular in the hobby that doesn’t need much in the way of explanation are:
- Blue Diamond
- Red Anaconda
- Striated Cobalt
- Leopard Snakeskin
- Snow White
- Marine Blue
- Scorpion Snakeskin
- Red Spotted Snakeskin
- Red Alenquer
The list could go on, but it’s possible to build an incredible shoal with an array of vibrant colors and combinations that will be the star of any tank in the home. Almost every color is out there, but beware that the rarer the color and variety, along with the size, will influence the price paid.
Discus Fish Habitat And Tank Requirements
As always, we want to achieve optimum health for fish we keep in captivity by closely mimicking their natural habitat. Their wild origins are the slow-moving waters and flood plains of the Amazon.
Let’s look at some specifics that are needed to provide these epic fish with a great quality of life that best suits them for optimum health.
Tank Conditions
Moderate to low water current is good for these fish as they aren’t strong swimmers.
They like a soft substrate and shady lighting conditions because of the vegetation overhang in the tropical Amazon forest canopy. Some in the hobby opt for no substrate as it’s the substrate that harbors the waste making the water changes frequent. But they like to forage in something, so as long as you vacuum regularly, having a substrate is the most natural choice.
Driftwood with no sharp edges and vegetation is ideal for these fish to meander around and hide in when they feel the need. They have a thick mucus layer on their bodies, but they should avoid getting scratched by wayward sharp decor if possible.
Good vegetation options include Amazon Swords, Anubias, Bacopa, Micro Swords, Dwarf Hairgrass, any plants that can handle the high water temperature required.
These fish are super sensitive to water fluctuations, so a heater is essential to keeping the water warm enough for them. They have zero tolerance for ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites, so they must be kept to the bare minimum.
If ammonia or nitrites are present in the tank and go above 0 ppm, you will see your Discus fish turning black, which is a very bad sign.
Higher water temperature also equates to a higher metabolism and, therefore, more waste and bioload to your tank. So you have to be meticulous with your cleaning regime.
Filtration needs to be on the powerful side for waste removal, so canister filters work best.
Water changes need to be daily for the smaller end of the scale tanks, and at least 25 – 40% changed over. For larger tanks, twice a week of 40% or once a week of 50% is possible, but you need to monitor with regular (read daily) water testing, especially when you are starting out and working out what works best for your new community.
Water conditions should be noted and maintained as follows:
- pH of 6.0 – 7.0
- Water hardness between 1 – 4 dKH
- Temperature between 82 – 86ºF (28 – 30ºC)
- Lighting on moderate to low levels will make their coloring stand out
Tank Size
The minimum tank size for a group of six is about 75 gallons, and if you add more, then add another 7 gallons for each individual.
However, this is the minimum, so getting something larger is even better to keep them active, curious, and healthier. Many successful hobbyists with Discus will tell you to go as large as you can afford, as in 100 gallons and upwards. It will help lighten the load of water change frequency.
In terms of shape, you’ll want something long and rectangular that will allow them plenty of active swimming areas.
Avoid anything rounded that will impede their schooling nature.
Choosing Tank Mates For Discus Fish
Handing a Discus Fish community on its own is already a tough job to do, so many in the hobby avoid complicating things by adding in other species to the mix.
When it comes to finding friendly species for your peaceful Discus Fish, you have plenty of options.
Keeping things like other calm and steady fish in the mix who won’t outcompete your slower swimming and eating Discus for maximum rewards. Dither fish work exceptionally well alongside Discus Fish.
As usual, we want to keep sizes of tank mates relative, nothing too small your Discus might try to consume. It’s unlikely you’ll find anything like a tank mate that might think of your Discus as a meal as an adult, but bear tank mate size in mind when they are juvenile.
Some excellent tank mate pairings that would work well include:
- Ram Cichlids
- Rummy Nose Tetras
- Neon Tetras
- Cardinal Tetras
- Clown Loaches
- Bolivian Rams
- Gouramis
- Pencil Fish
Add in invertebrates like shrimp and snails as Discus have small mouths and are unlikely to take much notice of them, so they are a good match too.
Avoid anything aggressive as they will defer to the other fish and usually lose out when it comes to feeding and will be on the wrong end of bullying behavior.
Notes On Feeding Discus Fish
Discus Fish are omnivores by nature and enjoy plant matter as well as small proteins like larvae and worms.
For such a large fish, they have comically tiny little mouths. You will need to ensure that the food sources provided are small enough that your Discus doesn’t have to struggle to eat it.
Always try to have the best quality commercial flake or pellet foods and include frozen and live meals regularly. There are specialist foods available for Discus Fish that cater to their nutritional needs and tiny bite-size.
For live or frozen food supplementation, they will enjoy bloodworms, larvae, blackworms, brine shrimp, and white worms.
Blanched veggies like zucchini, spinach, or cucumber can and should also be included in their meal plan, but be sure to remove any untouched food to avoid water fouling.
You’ll want to feed these guys a minimum of twice a day and allow them to consume what they can in no more than a few minutes to ensure they eat the food supply and reduce leftover wastes that then need meticulous removal.
Take care to observe that all of your school gets adequate nutrition. Their hierarchy may mean that the ones at the bottom of the ladder get shut out from feeding time, so you may have to spread out food in the tank, so everyone gets their fill.
Discus Fish Common Health Issues
Most freshwater fish are susceptible to Ich (White Spot Disease), which, as the name implies, is easily distinguished by white spots on the body due to a parasitic infection.
Fin Rot can also occur with these fish but can be harder to spot since their fins are so short!
Hexamita or Hole-in-the-Head disease is an internal parasite that can afflict this fish. This is usually acquired by eating something contaminated. Its symptoms include a growing hole in the head, weight loss, and pale stools. It is treatable, but as Discus are so sensitive, it can be tricky.
Discus Fish are also susceptible to Cloudy Eye, which is damage caused by physical trauma. Treatment is possible, but if it fails to change the situation, a specialist aquatic vet may have to remove the eye.
Normally these issues happen because the water parameters and quality have dropped. This means upping your game and schedule without fail to restore the tank to its best.
They can be minimized with a strict water cleaning and change schedule along with regular checking of your water parameters.
How To Breed Discus Fish
While it’s entirely possible to breed Discus Fish in the hobby nowadays, it’s not advisable to try. It’s a fairly daunting proposition even for the advanced aquarist and requires an epic amount of preparation, another 55-gallon breeding tank, breeding tank supplies, and the expected pristine, perfect water conditions.
Anyone not fully up to the task risks losing the adult breeding pair in the process, not to mention the fry.
A breeding tank with fry needs daily changes of 50 – 60%, and they are even more sensitive than adults, creating a ton of waste in the process.
Most folks won’t want to commit to all of that extra effort!
Are Discus Fish The Right Choice For Your Aquarium?
King of the Aquarium? In terms of effort on the part of the fish keeper, you better believe it.
They are indeed glorious when managed appropriately. And it must feel pretty special to have a healthy, vibrant school full of color and life lighting up your home and creating a magical landscape each day.
If you decide to go for it after gathering enough experience in the hobby, and your find Discus Fish success, it might be you channeling your inner Leonardo DiCaprio shouting:
“I’m the King of the World!”
