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Back to FAQ Index Page
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How hard is it to keep Discus?
Keeping Discus is not as hard as it once was, thanks to captive
breeding efforts. Wild caught Discus are notorious for
their internal parasites and have, therefore, been long regarded
as a "difficult" fish to keep.
NorthSide obtains all of its Discus from a single captive
breeder who raises his Discus at neutral (7.0) pH. Since
these fish arrive free of internal parasites and can be kept at
the pH that usually comes out of the tap in Central Arkansas,
these fish are relatively simple to keep.
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What is the minimum tank size for
Discus?
Discus can grow to be the size of a dinner plate (8"+), so it is
recommended that the aquarium be at least 18" from front to
back. This ensures that the Discus can turn around and
maneuver easily around decorations.
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Can I keep Discus with Angels?
It is not recommended that these species be kept together.
There is a great deal of controversy regarding the passing of
diseases back and forth between these two species. In
fact, Discus can catch disease from any other species.
However, the more pressing and definitive reason that these two
fish should not be kept together is that Angels are a more
aggressive fish and are aggressive eaters. Discus can
become easily intimidated by Angels and can starve to death in a
short period of time.
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Can I keep Discus with
Community Fish?
Cardinal tetras, rummynose tetras, harlequin rasboras, and
ancistrus all make good tankmates for Discus. You
should avoid aggressive fish such as barbs that can
intimidate the Discus. Also, larger fish that might be
tempted to eat off of the side of the discus (because they
produce an edible slime for their young) like plecos are not
a good idea. Finally, aggressive eaters should be
avoided because they will likely out-compete the Discus for
food. |
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What temperature should I keep
a Discus tank?
Discus tanks should be about 86 degrees Farenheit. We
strongly recommend using 2 high quality heaters that can
reach temperatures close to 90 degrees in your aquarium.
The 2 heaters help each other out so there is not so much
strain on either one of them, and the 90 degree rating is to
ensure that it can reach 86 degrees without a problem. |
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At what pH should I keep my
Discus tank?
NorthSide Aquatics' Discus are captive bred at neutral (7.0)
pH. It is not necessary to lower the pH of the Discus
we sell to the environment of their wild ancestors.
They are perfectly content at neutral.
Should you opt to buy wild caught
Discus elsewhere, in addition to deworming them, you should
lower their pH. But why make it hard for yourself?
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How often should I change the
water in my Discus tank?
Weekly water changes are not totally out of the question for
Discus. They are finicky about having clean water.
In a very lightly stocked tank you might get by with a water
change every 2 weeks, but that's pushing it! |
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What should I feed my Discus?
Beefheart has been a staple food for Discus for years.
While it can certainly be a part of the Discus diet, do not
limit them solely to this food source. NorthSide
Aquatics recommends feeding a mix of foods such as Spectrum
Discus Pellets, San Francisco Bay's Cichlid Delight and
Beefheart Plus. |
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How often should I feed my
Discus?
Discus are a fish that NorthSide recommends you feed at
least daily. You should also give them plenty of time
to eat - 60-90 minutes is a good timeframe. Discus
typically "graze" for food, meaning that they swim around
it, eyeball it, and then come back and pick and blow
at it. Drop in some food and stand back - way back, so
they are not intimidated. Watch each Discus carefully
to ensure that it is eating well.
If you find that after an hour and a
half, there is still food in the aquarium, feed less the
next time. |
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