Acclimating New Discus with Salt

Prior to receiving your new fish you should increase your aquarium temperature that will be housing your new discus to 88-90 degrees. Increase aeration and add one tablespoon of salt per 10 gallons of tank water. The tank should be kept like this for the next 2 weeks after your discus’ arrival, while you replace the appropriate amount of salt during water changes.

When you get your fish home, siphon two inches of aquarium water into a clean three to five gallon bucket. Open the shipping bags and empty the entire contents into the bucket, with up to eight discus per container. Add one large cup of tank water into each bucket every five minutes for the next thirty to forty minutes. Using a clean net, remove the fish from the bucket and place them in the tank. Leave the lights off and let the discus get used to their new surroundings. Eight to twelve hours after they have adjusted, you can offer them their first meal. Frozen bloodworms are an excellent first choice.

After two weeks, if they look like they are doing well, you can lower the tank temperature to eighty-six to eighty-eight degrees, and quit adding salt to the water changes.

Always Remember
Anytime you receive new fish, it is wise to quarantine them in their own tank for two to four weeks. All hoses and nets should be kept separate or soaked in a Clorox solution, making sure to rinse thoroughly. Before adding new fish to your existing stock it is always wise to introduce a resident fish to the new arrivals. After one or two weeks, if all fish remain healthy, they can then be safely added to your existing stock.