Are Discus Fish Hard To Keep Alive?

Discus fish have a very bad reputation for being difficult to keep alive. Discus are probably on the higher end of the price range so careful consideration of what is required to keep Discus is needed.
In this article we will tell you the truth and answer the question of whether Discus fish are truly hard to keep alive.

Getting Some Fresh Perspective

Let’s go to extreme’s for a moment and venture into the dog world. Most everyone is familiar with the giant Great Dane and the smaller Chihuahua. Deciding between both these dogs requires several obvious decisions before bringing one of them home. Some of them would be:

• Do you have enough space in your home?
• Are you going to be able to afford feeding the dog?
• What extra doctor fees will I pay for having a larger dog versus a smaller dog

And so on… The same can be said about Discus fish. Deciding to keep Discus over Tetras or Oscars require you to understand the difference in care each species requires for a long healthy life.
Discus are no harder to keep alive than any other tropical fish when the proper knowledge and commitment is in place.

Discus Special Requirements

It is true, Discus require a bit more time and preparation. It is not as simple as sprinkling in some flake food and adding water only when half the tank has evaporated.
Here are some important points to consider about Discus:

• Discus require frequent water changes. Note, frequency does not equal volume of water. If you decide to change 100% or 20% at a time, the point is to keep consistent frequency of the water changes. No more than once a day, no less than once a week.
• Discus need friendly tank mates who will not challenge them for food. Discus do great with smaller fish like Lamp Eye Tetras and Coryodoras. Discus will not do well with aggressive dominate fish like Angelfish or other cichlids.
• Food must be a healthy variety of proteins like beefheart, krill and shrimp as well as vegetables and plants. Most are pre-packaged in frozen cube form. California Blackworms are a great source for live foods. Do not make the mistake of feeding the same food day after day, variety is key for growth and longevity.
• Breeders and Tropical Fish Stores are key contributors of how healthy and how long your Discus will live. Pick your Discus sources wisely. As far as I know, in all of my experience, I do not know of a case where a Discus was saved from the brink of disease and lived a long healthy life. Nor have I ever seen a stunted Discus that should have been culled grow into a contest winning Discus. Be picky and ask a ton of questions about the Discus you want to buy. It’s your money and Discus are not cheap! Ask about the food that is fed to the Discus, how often is the water changed and so on.

These are just a few points to consider, if you have questions please ask them below in the comments.

Discus Are Easy To Keep Alive

Discus really are easy to keep alive, when those who choose to keep Discus as a hobby take the time to learn a bit before starting.
Keeping Discus as a hobby can be a very rewarding experience. Discus live for a very long time, they learn to recognize owners, can be hand fed and uniquely raise and feed their own fry.
Like anything you choose to take on in your life, take the time to learn as much about it as possible before taking on the commitment. I am certain thousands upon thousands of Discus have met their demise to inexperienced hobbyist who didn’t bother to read a book or search the internet for more information. And call it a guess, but I am pretty sure that these people are the first to complain about how delicate Discus are and how hard they are to keep.
Do your homework, Discus are great and easy to keep.

Questions For You

What questions do you have about Discus?
Have you kept Discus before?
What myths or rumors have you heard about Discus?

Source: Discus Guide