Click to enlarge
Photo by Ricardo Cervantes 2004
In this column, my intentions are too simple. I am going to try and give you my point of view of what works for me in keeping and breeding of the magnificent discus. What I mean by that is simply one thing. There are thousands of articles, books, magazines and not to mention a plethora of 'Discus Gurus'' advice to fill most any given library. I don’t plan on even trying to dispel anyone’s methods of dealing with discus, I am just going to tell you what works for me. I have always believed in the KISS principle, Keep It Simple Silly and we will attempt to do exactly that!

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'Melon' Discus
Photo by Ricardo Cervantes 2004

Many years ago, I learned this well known KISS principle from my former Discus “Mentor” . . . the late John Fisher of Sarasota, Florida. When everyone else was trying to make the keeping of discus the same difficulty level as reaching Mars, I was very fortunate to have met and be befriended by a man who loved keeping and breeding discus, but he did it without seeking the “Discus Fame”, as most people do. John Fisher was most often seen in and around the wholesale fish 'commercial world' in the Tampa, Florida area. He went around weekly supplying 1,000's of his young discus to wholesalers for years, while others were struggling to keep them alive. He was content in simply knowing that he did what most 'experts' of the time said couldn't be done . . . from day one, after coming up for food the discus fry were fed nothing but live baby brine.

I knew John for a number of years and most of what I know today about the King of the Aquarium, the discus, I owe to this man. (If you have never heard of John Fisher, he was founder of the “North American Discus Society”, the first Discus Club in North America.)

So in keeping with the world's, and John's, KISS principle…I will attempt to keep you informed on how to keep discus, breed discus and everything that pertains to the discus world, from my successful point of view of course. Discus have traveled a long, long weathered journey since the early days of the brown discus, blue discus, green discus and the famous Heckle discus. Yes indeed, the different colors and multitude of variations will boggle your mind and your aquarium soul. These discus now approach almost any color of the spectrum and they are wonderfully healthy fish. The days of 'sick discus' are almost over. They are as healthy as any other fish you will get for your tanks.

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One of the last know pair
of the 'Fisher Strain of Discus'
photo by MFJacobs 2001

The quality and form of discus forms keep getting better and better with each passing year. Every time I attend the ACA I have noticed an increase in variety and color forms. Without a doubt I can say that both the next ACA in Denver (July 2004) and 'Discus Championship' in Germany (October 2004) will be full of surprises.

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Fry that hatched from
the above laying of eggs.
photo by MFJacobs 2001

It has been said that keeping discus is only for the advanced aquarist; only for the “experts”. I will try to dispel some of these myths as well as give you the practical advice everyone needs to be successful. Discus need not to be feared any longer. They are healthy and you need only be careful where you get them just like the rest of your aquarium fish collection these days. Discus may not be for everyone and certainly not everyone is meant to be a keeper of the mighty 'King', but if you have discus in your heart, I am going to help you along.

The Easiest Things First . . . Tank Size

One of the first questions people ask me is “How big of a Tank do I need to keep discus”?
To that I say, a good rule of thumb of (10 gallons per adult discus) works best. I have found this to be a good measure in order not to inhibit their growth. If breeding discus is on your mind for the future then you should start with a minimum of 6 fish, both for the social values of the 'school' and for the purposes of finding a compatible pair (every fish over six insures both points). It has been my experience that the average person will have a better chance of success if they start with young adult’s 3 to 4 inch fish all 6 of about the same size, MINOR differences are fine. Do not mix discus of completely different sizes, this only encourages the smaller ones to be bullied and the fight for food will increase.

The next question I am most asked is which is better, a planted tank or a bare bottom tank???

These questions, in reality, has two answers, if you don’t plan on breeding discus and only want a show Tank of these magnificent fish, then by all means the planted tank is the answer. There are several plants that do well in the above average temperatures that discus prefer. I personally use a variety of Amazon swords and Java ferns in my planted tanks. However, if you are planning on breeding discus then the answer is a bare bottom tank to achieve the totally clean environment the discus seems to prefer.

Water quality and tank cleanliness is of prime importance if you are to be successful in breeding and raising the discus. The space you give them the water parameters and the changing of water and the size of the tank all have a value in the spawning of the mighty discus.

Sit back, relax and let's enjoy the “KING of the Aquarium” over the next few columns . . . you will be glad you did: Tank size, through buying, through successful breeding.