Uncle Sam's Discus - Blog

Keeping discus fish in an aquarium is more than just achieving an aesthetic purpose. They are, of course, some of the most beautiful tropical fishes you can put in that small water enclosure. But having one also entails big responsibility to its keeper.   As most people would know, discus fish is highly reactive to its aquatic environment. Here are several tips to make your discus healthy and happy in its habitat. Maintain a Clean Tank As with other aquarium fishes, it is important to keep the tank clean. Discus fishes, in particular, are extremely susceptible to diseases brought by certain water conditions. They are also sensitive to water quality changes and don’t tolerate well with it. There are a lot of tools out there that you can utilize for this specific kind of requirement. Quarantine New Fish Don’t forget to quarantine a new discus fish before placing it into the tank. Regardless from which store or breeder they come from, you can’t guarantee that a ...

Regardless of how tedious you are when it comes to maintaining aquarium, disease causing bacteria and fungus can still seep their way into the environment. There are several factors like the introduction of a new fish or the addition of water. However, it’s rarely a case that these kinds of problem arise when your water quality is good and the fishes are healthy. Still, fish fungus is such a huge headache among discus fish keepers. In this article, we will try to take a closer look at fish fungus among discus fish – what it looks like, how it affects them, and what to do about it. Pathology First off, let’s get acquainted with the enemy. The fungi commonly involved in this type of pet problem are the Achyla and Saprolegia. They are often known collectively as water molds. They can be found in most water tanks wherein they break down organic material like uneaten fish food, droppings, and dead leaves. These organisms are quite very opportunistic and will grab th...

Having the best-looking aquarium isn’t just about the fish you put into the tank. Aside from its floating inhabitants, everything falls into consideration: the plants, the media, the ornaments, and even the lighting. To make your discus fish tank a true attention grabber, you should be able to highlight what appeals to the visual senses. This can be done with a simple tweak on how you set up your aquarium lighting. If you already have an aquarium and wish to improve its overall presentation, or perhaps you’re planning to build one in your home or at the office, then this article is for you. Here, we’re going to touch on the essential factors that one must keep in mind when setting up aquarium lighting. Despite its aesthetic purpose, lighting is very important in the overall welfare of the fish. Discus, in particular, relies heavily on the right spectrum of light as well as intensity, for them to grow and stay healthy. Needless to say, a wrong lighting can put your tropical...

Discus fish are highly sociable animals. Naturally, they thrive in schools. It’s hard for them to survive when they are alone. This is despite proper care and tank maintenance. It’s because they yearn for company and this is a crucial factor in their overall well-being. Aside from their own kind, discus fish do get a long extremely well with other fish types. In fact, some discus fish care experts would recommend filling up an aquarium tank with variety of species as this too promotes a positive effect on the survivability and health of the discus.  In a previous post , we revealed the 5 perfect discus tank mates that you can buy from your local tropical fish dealer. For this article, we will add a handful more others so that you will have more options to choose from. 1. Siamese Algae Eater One of the most prominent characteristics of the Siamese Algae Eater is its peaceful demeanor. They are the type that likes to be in their own business and not minding t...