Many aquarists consider Discus fish to be finicky and they are not recommended for inexperienced aquarists. Discus fish are not particularly hardy and they often become susceptible to stress-borne disease and die if not kept in optimal conditions. Ammonia (produced from fish waste) and suboptimal water temperatures are the biggest threats to the immune system of a Discus fish. In their natural habitat, Discus fish live in essentially distilled water, therefore, the chemicals commonly added to the municipal water supply can be dangerous to the fish. It is for this reason that many Discus fish enthusiasts ultimately choose to do water changes using RO water.
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Aquariums for Discus Fish should be kept within a temperature range of 26-31 C; a temperature of 29 C (84 F) is thought ideal for adults. Babies and young fish should be maintained at 31 C (88 F) degrees. The water should be very soft and slightly acidic; a pH of 5.5 - 6.5 is considered good for wild caught Discus Fish.
Feeding discus is sometimes a challenge. They have no unique nutritional requirements; they can be raised on just about any high-protein fish food. However, discus are often extremely cautious about new foods; it is not unusual for them to go for weeks before accepting a new type of food. (Therefore, when purchasing discus it is a good idea to ask what they are being fed and even to ask to see them eat.) After starving for a month discus will almost always accept a new food, but this may stunt the growth of younger fish and cause undue stress to already stressed fish.
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It is a myth that discus prefer low lighting. They are often pictured in dark aquariums as this is the best way to show their colors, however discus do not require any special lighting. They will quite happily live in a well lit tank just much as most other tropical freshwater fish. They do however, appreciate some shaded areas in the aquarium.
There are three layers of color on discus: The base color (which usually ranges from cream to red-brown), the secondary color (a metallic color, usually a blue or green color) and the black pigment that makes up the black vertical bars and allows the fish to darken and lighten at will.
Most discus strains have either a yellow or reddish base color. The secondary color is often striped down the sides of the fish, although many strains (such as solid cobalt' or blue diamonds') have secondary color that eventually covers most or all of the fish's body.
A bare bottom twenty or twenty-seven gallon tall tank is ideal for breeding discus. Discus lay their eggs in the same manner as angels, and so a vertical surface should be provided for them to deposit their eggs on. An arsy-varsy flowerpot is sometimes used. A potted plant or two can be added to the breeding tank if so desired, and will provide some shelter for the pair, but this is not essential. As far as filtration goes, a sponge filter should be used to handle the biological load along with an outside power filter to pick up any debris that may be in the water.
