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Discus are often called the "king of the aquarium". Their colours and calm, social behaviour are stunning. They have a reputation for being difficult, but captive-bred discus are very manageable if you give them warm, very clean water and a consistent routine.
Discus at a glance
| Size | 15–20cm |
| Minimum tank | 250 litres for a group, 50cm+ tall |
| Group size | 5–6 or more |
| Temperature | 28–30°C |
| pH | 6.0–7.0, soft water |
| Lifespan | 10–15 years |
Choosing discus
Buy healthy, captive-bred fish that are eating well and alert, with dark eyes and a rounded body. We stock colour strains including Red Checkerboard Turquoise, Red Rose, Tiger Turquoise and Snow White. Discus are social and do best in groups of five or more of similar size.
Water: the key to success
- Warm and stable at 28–30°C. Use a quality heater sized for the tank, or two smaller heaters for safety.
- Very clean. Many keepers change 30–50% of the water weekly or more. Nitrate should stay low.
- Soft water helps, especially for wild fish or breeding. Many keepers use RO water remineralised with Seachem Equilibrium or Seachem Discus Trace. Read The Essential Role of RO Water.
- Consistent. Stability matters more than chasing a perfect pH. See pH, GH and KH Explained.
Tank setup
Many discus keepers use a bare-bottom or thin sand substrate for easy cleaning, with driftwood and hardy plants that tolerate heat, such as anubias, Java fern and Amazon swords. Place the tank in a quiet spot; discus are easily startled. Gentle flow from a quality external filter is ideal.
Feeding
Feed two to three small meals a day. Young discus need high-protein food to grow. Good choices include Hikari Discus Bio-Gold and Gamma Discus Diet, plus frozen bloodworm and mysis. Remove uneaten food promptly to protect water quality.
Tankmates
Choose calm fish that like warm water: cardinal tetras, rummy-nose tetras, sterbai corydoras and bristlenose plecos. Avoid angelfish (which can carry disease and compete), fast or nippy fish, and anything that needs cooler water.
Health tips
- Dark colour, hiding or not eating are early signs of stress. Check water quality first.
- Internal parasites are common. Signs include white, stringy droppings and weight loss. Products such as Kusuri Discus Wormer can help.
- Quarantine new fish. See Setting Up a Quarantine Tank.
