Tropical Fish Discus Forum Questions Answered!

My tank crashed a month ago, and my filters are just coming around again and the ammonia in my tank is in a non toxic form. I just put a few discus in and their fins (pectoral) are quivering and they are hiding under the driftwood. My p.h. is at 6.2 and temp is at 84. My filters can’t cycle the non toxic ammonia yet and if I do a water change, I’m fear that my tank will crash again. I’ve lost over 1,000.00 in discus and don’t want to go through that again. What should I do?

Reply:
1. You should have a hospital tank or a bare-tank.
2. In this situation now you should treat your fish in the hospital tank.
3. Until your main tank is ready, then only you transfer them back. Of course your fish would have recovered.
4. While you transfer the fish make sure both tanks, water conditions must be balance.

I have a 55 gallon community aquarium and would like to keep discus with smaller fish. Are there smaller breeds of discus, or will they remain smaller in a smaller aquarium?

Reply:
1. Start with the small baby discus.
2. Control the diet.
3. They will grow but not to maximum size.
4. There is no dwarf discus.

I have 3 discus 2 of them a spot on they head at the front a few weeks ago now they have pop and white stuff coming out and few day ago it stop now they have a hole in the head. I have for 4 year now but never had any like this …

Reply:
1. Don’t worry. They are going to be ok.
2. Hole in the heads is very common. They are not going to kill your fish.
3. The cause of hole in the head is due to your diet imbalance.
4. It’s lack of Calcium in the diet.
5. Mix milk or spirulina in your fish burgle. They consist of calcium.
6. Once a while give them Methylene Blue and salt bath.

Why are the most Discus Fish Eyes is red in color but only a few got blank in color, what is the secret to make the Discus Fish into Red Color?

Reply:
1. Most of the hobbysts like discus fish in red eyes. They look more attractive.
2. The parents have red eyes. Most likely the babies will have red eyes.
3. No secret. Pick the red eye ones to breed.

Recently I purchased some young red turqoise discus, supposedly around 3 months old and they seem to have some good colors started, not completeley striated yet, a couple show almost full when eating or arguing. I have two questions. What age do red turqoise discus, start to color up and do colors show better with certain foods? For example shrimp, spirulina, multivitamins or even tetra color bits.

Reply:
1. When the fish is matured, they will show full colors. Better still while they are courting.
2. Red turquoise roughly will be matured at 10 to 12 months old.
3. Feeding them with spirulina and shrimps definitely will show better colors.
4. Tetra bits is good.

I am a new owner of discus fish I’ve had my water tested by my local fish shop all good. My fish are 1 week new in my tank they stay low in the dark and freak out when im around. No fin clamping or darkness on fish. Fish are 4″. I have three discus in a 3foot tank with 4 catfish. I thought maybe I should introduce more discus and they might start to come out.

Reply:
1. Catfish is not advisable to mix with discus.
2. You can add in another three discus. They will do well.

I currently have a 42 gal hex. I’m running an under gravel filter with a power head and about 5″ of gravel with live plants. I’m using a bio wheel with two different media plus an in tank heater. The water conditions aren’t ready for discus yet, but I’m moving in that direction. If I start with 2-4 discus, will this tank be big enough for them to grow? What other fish can I include in this tank?

Reply:
1. 42 gallons tank is ok for the discus fish. You can easily put in 8 adult fish.
2. Live plants are good and natural.
3. Discus would like to live in group. 2 are too few. Feeding is a bit problem. They will be scared to take the food.
4. They will grow if you take care of them properly. Regular feeding. Water partially changed.
5. Feeding must be handled carefully. No overfeeding.
6. Discus prefers to be together with their own kind.

I am setting up a new 92 gal. corner tank. I plan on using live plants; mostly ozealot and amazon sword with java fern on the drift wood. How many discus should I introduced after the tank has been cycled? I plan on using neons to cycle the tank with some Japanese shrimp.

Reply:
1.You can easily have 20 adult discus.
2.Amazon sword just suits the discus fish.
3.They can lay eggs on the leaves.

How big is a 40 gallons tank. Over here we are used to 2ft, 2.5ft, 3ft or 4ft. How can I convert from the tank measurement?

Reply:
Below is the 40 gallons tank measurement.
2.5 ft. tank 30″ x 24″ x 16″ Water height 15.4″
3 ft. tank 36″ x 18″ x 18″ Water height 17″
4 ft. tank 48″ x 24″ x 12″ Water height 9.6″

When discus lay eggs do you still have to carry out water changes and in what propotion?, and after the hatch how often do you carry out water changes?

Reply:
1. Once the eggs laid, the water should be changed partially. Add in Methylene Blue to protect the fungus growth.
2. After hatched out, follow (1).

I am in the process of setting up a 55 gallon tank for discus. I have heard that plecos are not good with discus. So far i have only put in some cory’s. What type of Algae eating Catfish would be able to go in this tank and get along with my discus?

Reply:
1. Discus fish is actually a very sensitive fish. It is good to have all the discus in a tank.
2. There are many colors and varieties of discus. They all can agree to one another. You have chance to see them grow and pair up (mate). They can breed without other type of fish to disturb.
3. You can adjust the light to control the algae.

I have 4 discus 1 red 1 blue a turquoise red and a turquoise blue. The turquoise red discus continuously keeps chasing the red and blue discus. As a result the red and blue discus have stopped eating. I feed all my fish tetra bits by TETRA. What should i do so that all of my discus stay in peace and start eating?
Reply:
1. Take the red turquoise out in the separate tank for a few days.
2. Treat the tank (red and blue discus) with Acriflavine and salt.
3. After a week or so return the fish back to the tank.