🐠Discus: gear and buying guides

The discus is a stunning but very demanding cichlid, reserved for experienced aquarists. It lives in groups of 5 to 6 in at least 300 L, with warm water at 28 to 30 °C, very soft, acidic and impeccably clean. Frequent water changes and a high equipment budget make it a project in its own right.

Profile : 15 to 20 cm as an adult, 300 L minimum for a group of 5, very soft water between 28 and 30 °C.

Species profile

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Adult size

18 cm

Minimum tank

300 L

Water temperature

28 to 30 °C

pH

6 to 7

Temperament

A gregarious, shy cichlid that forms a group hierarchy and gets outcompeted at feeding time if too harassed.

Health watch

hexamita and hole-in-the-head in imperfect water · white spot disease in fragile juveniles

🩺 This health information is general in nature and does not replace a consultation: at the slightest doubt about your animal’s condition, talk to your vet.

Discus gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  A delicate carnivore: dedicated discus granules, brine shrimp and beef-heart preparations used in moderation. Several small meals a day, since it eats slowly and gets outcompeted at feeding time.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  One of the most demanding species for water quality: very low nitrates, remineralized RO water and 25 to 50 percent weekly changes, even more for juveniles. Any lapse quickly shows in its color and appetite.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  Large vertical driftwood, heat-tolerant plants such as some sword plants, and open zones for group swimming. A calm environment without sudden movement in front of the tank limits stress.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  A tank of at least 300 L, 50 to 60 cm tall, for a group of 5 to 6 that establishes its hierarchy. Tankmates should be limited to calm warm-water species such as sterbai corydoras.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  Transport in double, opaque bags kept warm, as temperature drops are its main danger. Drip acclimation of about one hour, in the dark.

• 🧰 Accessories

  An RO unit, a powerful external filter, a 250 to 300 W heater and a reliable thermometer are essential. Expect 400 to 800 euros of equipment, excluding the fish, which often cost more than 50 euros each.

Guides to read

• Community aquarium or species-only tank: which is right for a first setup?Bedding & habitat

  Community aquarium or species-only tank: pros, cohabitation risks and advice for choosing how to set up your first aquarium.

• Best easy aquarium plants without CO2 for beginnersToys & enrichment

  Which aquarium plants can you choose without CO2 injection? A selection of hardy, easy plants for a beginner's planted tank.

• Budget for a first brackish water aquarium: the real cost to get startedBedding & habitat

  How much does a first brackish water aquarium cost? Tank, filtration, salt and salinity monitoring, budgeted item by item.

• Changing filter media too often: the mistake that wrecks your aquarium's cycleCare & grooming

  Why you should never replace all your filter media at once: nitrifying bacteria, replacement frequency and the right habits.

• Restarting a neglected aquarium: a step-by-step guideCare & grooming

  How do you restart an aquarium that's been left neglected without endangering the fish? Steps, water changes and mistakes to avoid.

• GH, KH and pH: understanding and adjusting aquarium water hardnessCare & grooming

  GH, KH, pH: what do these three readings actually measure, and how do you adjust aquarium water hardness without stressing the fish?

• Upgrading to a bigger aquarium: moving your fish without the stressBedding & habitat

  How do you upgrade to a bigger aquarium without breaking the biological cycle or stressing your fish? Steps and mistakes to avoid.

• Aquarium electrical safety: GFCI protection and good habitsTravel & safety

  Heater, filter, lighting near the water: what electrical precautions keep an aquarium safe for fish and people?