Sunday, April 29, 2012

Everything You Need to Know About Discus Fishes and More

By Marian Steele


What are Discus Fish?

The Discus fish is a part of the Symphysodon family of sea creatures. These cichlid species naturally inhabit the basins of the Amazon River.

Over the last century, these magnificent sea creatures are fondly collected and bred by major fish enthusiasts all over the world. Many are enticed by the Discus fish since this is the only fish alive that has the capability to know its owner and has the awareness of the environment surrounding it.

They have been named "Discus" because of their disc-shaped body. Their disc-type shape is not the only thing that has fascinated many fish fanatics. It is their sensitivity towards the environment that has challenged breeders to grow their kind. Only a handful of people before have mastered the techniques in caring for the Discus fish. However, because of its popularity, this has not been a hindrance for breeders to grow them by the dozens.

Breeding Discus fishes can be a hobby for some but for many business minded entrepreneurs, selling Discus fish is their bread and butter.

Different Types of Discus Fish

There are three major species for the Discus family. They are fondly named after their colors. Below is a list of the natural selection of the Discus fish:

1.Symphysodon Discus. This is commonly known as the Heckel Discus. It is famous for its fifth stripe and are colored either both red and blue. This Discus fish is named after its discoverer John Heckel.

2.Symphysodon Aequifasciata Axelrodi or Brown Discus. Compared to other types of Discus, this is the quiet type.Its attitude defies its color. So, no matter how lifeless it may appear to be, it shines best with its personality.

3.Symphysodon Aequifasciatus Haraldi or Blue Discus. This is the largest type of Discus. It can grow a little bit bigger than the palm of a 5-year old. They are as quiet as the Brown Discus inside the aquarium.

4.Symphysodon Aequifasciatus or the Green Discus. This will appear in many shades, varying from bright vivid green to a lighter and more yellowish color. They will reach about the same size as the Blue Discus.

Basics of Caring for Discus Fish

Caring for the Discus means keeping in mind a few important points:

1.What to feed them? Try experimenting with live, dry or frozen fish foods for the Discus. Find out what they like eating best so that you can keep them healthy at all times. Avariety of such foods can be given with regular intervals.

2.Temperature and pH. The water inside the tank must have a pH of 6.5 and the water temperature must not be too cold or too warm.

3.Aquarium. The size of the tank must be large enough to allow the Discus fish to freely swim inside the aquarium. The minimum tank size must be able to accommodate 55 gallons of water.

Breeding Discus Fish

The tasks in breeding Discus fish would be impossible without hard-work, discipline and patience. The most important of them is to make it a routine to check the clarity of the water inside the tank. Any fish can die if the water is left unchanged.

We all know that the Discus fish is naturally a sensitive creature. Have the patience to talk to the Discus so that they can live happily inside their man-made habitat.

How to Make a Living With Discus Fish

Shops that sell fishes for a living earn greatly out of breeding different types of Discus fish. A lot of fish addicts are under the Discus spell, making them purchase an endless variety of Discus fishes.

One reason why many hobbyists are inclined in purchasing them is because the Discus is a social fish, making it very lovable and fun to be around.




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