Keeping discus: water parameters, feeding and care

Discus have a reputation for being difficult, but with warm, clean water and a fixed routine they are rewarding fish. Here is what you need to know.

Orange discus in a planted aquarium
Photo: Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The discus (Symphysodon) is not called the king of the aquarium for nothing. This South American cichlid is calm, social and available in countless colour varieties.

Water parameters

  • Temperature: 28 to 30 °C, warmer than for most fish
  • pH: 6.0 to 7.0
  • Hardness: soft water

Clean water is everything

Discus are sensitive to waste. Change at least 25 to 50 percent a week; many keepers even do so several times a week. A reverse osmosis unit makes it easier to produce soft water.

The aquarium

Discus grow tall. Choose a tank of at least 50 cm high and keep a group of five to six fish: alone or in pairs they become shy.

Feeding

Feed small portions two to three times a day: discus granules, frozen food and a beefheart mix. Remove leftovers after a few minutes to keep the water clean.

Tankmates

Choose fish that tolerate the high temperature, such as cardinal tetras, rummy-nose tetras and Corydoras sterbai.