Discus Health Overview

If you already know how to keep and maintain fish, then caring for discus won’t be much of a challenge for you. After all, taking care of this species is similar to taking care of others, though there are certain techniques for taking care of discus that you should know. We’ll describe them in this article.

Leopard Snakeskin Discus and a Blue Diamond Discus

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I CAN DO FOR MY DISCUS’ HEALTH?

Feeding your discus a healthy diet and keeping their tank clean are the most important things you can do to positively their health. When discus are nourished well and swimming in clean water, they are resilient.

WHAT SHOULD I FEED MY DISCUS?

Discus need a high-protein diet for their growth. Brine shrimp and beef heart are excellent protein sources.

Additionally, make sure your discus gets vitamins. Some owners give their discus a varied diet to make sure their discus get all their needed vitamins. Other times, owners will use human multivatimin supplements or B-100 tablets and mix them in with discus food. 

WHAT ARE COMMON DISCUS ILLNESSES?

Just like any species, discus can get sick. You will be able to notice if they are sick because they will start showing weird changes in color and texture, as well abnormal behavior in feeding patterns. In caring for these fish, you have to be conscious about what is happening to them and understand common diseases that can plague them.

The most common illnesses are:

• Cloud Eye Infections
• Columnari’s Disease
• Dropsy and Popeye
• Fish Tuberculosis
• Fungal Infections
• Gill Fluke
• Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE)
• Hexamitiasis
• Loss of Balance or Head Standing
• Parasitic Worms
• Tapeworms
• Toxic Aluminum
• White Spot Infections

HOW CAN I PREVENT DISCUS ILLNESSES?

In order to prevent illness, it is critical that you monitor your discus and make sure its behavior isn’t abnormal. Additionally, check the water temperature, pH level, and clarity of the water regularly. Make sure to feed your discus on a regular basis. In addition, do your best to keep them in a good mood. Since discus don’t like being alone, put at least five of them in your tank. Also keep in mind that, unlike many other fishes, discus are observant of what happens outside their tank. If they sense something is wrong, it will adversely affect their health.

Solid Turquoise Discus

QUESTIONS

• How will you help your discus stay healthy?
• Do you think discus are easy to care for?
• How can a balanced diet and clean tank help discus stay healthy?
• What other health articles do you want to read in our Learning Center?