Fighting can be seen in a pair of discus fish. They may display bold colors, can lock jaws and even peck at one another .
How do you deal with discus aggression?
Are discus aggressive to other fish?
Discus are generally calm, peaceful fish, but as cichlids, they can be aggressive toward one another , especially when attempting to pair off and spawn. Shy or submissive fish should be removed if they are unable to compete. Most serious hobbyists do not mix their discus with too many other species.
Can you keep two discus?
If you have a mating pair, you can buy two discus . Keeping two in their own tank is a good choice when they have decided they want to become parents and raise some fry for you.
How many discus fish should be kept together?
Discus should be kept together, and those of different varieties will also school together meaning you can have great color variations. A minimum of 5 is recommended , but more will look better and create a sturdier group.
How do you make discus happy?
The easiest trick for keeping happy discus is to raise the water temperature . We highly recommend 85 to 86°F. The reason is because the discus farms we get them from usually keep their waters at these temperatures, and when we try to force them to cool down, it becomes a source of discomfort.
How do you tell a male discus from a female?
Although male discus fish have prominent physical characteristics, the female usually has the most striking coloration in solid-colored fish, while the male's colors appear more faded . In patterned species, the male has more intricate patterns than the female. Fin shape is another clue.
What is the lifespan of a discus fish?
In home aquariums, discus live for an average of 10 years, but can live up to 15 years , and can grow up to 8 inches.
Why are my discus at the top of the tank?
A fish may linger near the surface because he's trying to breathe more easily . Remember, fish breathe dissolved oxygen—not oxygen that is already combined in the H2O molecule. Naturally, these dissolved oxygen levels tend to be higher near the surface, where interaction between air and water takes place.
Why is my discus fighting?
Fish aggression, which can be represented by chasing, body slapping and picking, is a sign of health . Sick discus fish never display aggression. A healthy fish may intimidate a sick fish, but two sick fish will not chase, nip and threaten one another with body slapping. Sick fish are far too busy being inconspicuous.
Why is my discus so aggressive?
Changing Environment To Reduce Discus Bullying
Aggression can also happen during breeding times and when you're tank is underpopulated . An example of an underpopulated tank is a 30-gallon tank with only two discus in it. Naturally, one discus is going to bully the other one.
How do I know if my discus are pairing?
Can I keep 3 discus together?
You will need to allow ten gallons for each discus. Also discus being a shoaling species a minimum number of at least six discus will need to be kept .
Can I keep 2 discus in community tank?
As a general rule, a single discus fish requires at least 50 gallons of tank size in order to thrive. For each additional discus you plan to keep, add another 5 to 10 gallons of tank capacity – and don't forget to factor in the other fish you plan to keep in your discus community tank.
Can I keep 5 discus?
Most discus in the common aquarium max out at 4.5-6 inches.
Based on this size range, the minimum tank size would be a 55 gallon tank, but the bigger the better for these guys. 3-5 discus should be doable in a 55gal aquarium as long as water changes are kept up with .
Is discus peaceful?
Discus fish are extremely peaceful and shy in temperament and do best when kept in groups of six or more. While they can be kept in an aquarium with other peaceful species of freshwater fish, it is recommended that they be kept in a ‘species tank' due to their very specific tank and water requirements.
How often should I feed my discus?
The question we are asked most often is, “What do you feed your discus, and how often do you feed them.” Discus enjoy a varied diet consisting of high-quality nutrients, but they also like their goodies. Adult discus are fed twice daily, and younger fish are fed three times a day or more .
How fast does discus grow?
They are fully grown at the age of approximately 2 to 2.5 years ! To ensure the steady and stable growth of our discus fish, we recommend continuing to feed 3 daily meals of our STENDKER Discus Feed.
Do discus really need daily water changes?
Discus fish don't require daily water changes unless they are juveniles , and you want to grow them to their maximum potential. However, they still need frequent water changes, and you should certainly do it if you want to raise a healthy, big, and beautiful fish.
How long does it take for discus to settle?
Do not feed your fish right away. We suggest waiting at least 24 hours for them to settle down before feeding them. They will look like they are hungry, but it is best for them to wait a full day before their first feeding.
Are discus fish cold water?
WATER PARAMETERS: Discus requires warm water . Low water temperatures are stressful, and the discus will suffer overtime, being especially prone to intestinal parasites. Best temperature range for discus is 28C-30C. Tap water should be treated to remove CHLORINE and CHLORAMINE and the pH adjusted.
Can discus see in dark?
However, despite their fondness for darkness, they do come from the tropics — so make sure they receive 10 to 12 hours of light a day. Just make certain it's dim light.
At what age do discus start breeding?
Because discus fish are difficult to sex while they are still young, you may need to wait until the fish mature and they may naturally pair off on their own. Female discus fish reach sexual maturity at 12 months of age , while males take a few months more to mature.
Why do my discus keep eating their eggs?
REASON #1 The Discus pair is still inexperience .
When the Discus Pair do spawn and produce some eggs, they might found it difficult to adapt to changes. Due to lack of experience, the Discus Pair eat their eggs.
How old is a 2 inch discus?
A 2 1⁄2 inch discus fish is only three months old when they are shipped to customers. The growth rate from 2 1⁄2 inch to 4 inch keeping the fish in a small aquarium will only take four more months.
Is salt good for discus fish?
Discus seem to thrive with water changing conditions anyway, so a adding a SMALL amount of salt can help . Plus if used with interpet number nine , this will wipe out a bacterial infection better if used the same time as the salt.
How often should I change the water in my discus tank?
For most aquariums a water change of 30% once a week is just fine, you can do more if you want to, but we think it's better to sit back and enjoy your Discus.
