Picking a Quality Discus Fish
Posted on May 27, 2010
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Choosing a healthy Discus fish is an important part of developing an enjoyable aquarium. There are a number of things you should know about this process in order to pick the right fish. The fish you choose should be alert and active and not be spending its time in the corner of the tank. Newly arrived fish, however, can sometimes be shy and dark in color until they become accustomed to their new home. These fish are normally a little aggressive toward each other but do not choose a fish that is violent towards others.
Inquire as to the age of the fish you are considering. An eight-week-old fish should measure about 1 1/2 inches in length. At one year a full-grown Discus tropical fish should be about six inches long from head to tail. Pay careful attention to age and size. If you want large fish as adults it is important not to buy abnormally small specimens. Like other animals they will grow much faster when they are young and then their growth rate will gradually slow down, as they get older. Quality food is necessary during the fish’s early life or it will fail to grow to grow to normal adult size. Ask the shop owner for recommendations on quality food. An undersized fish can sometimes be forced to grow a little more by overfeeding but generally they will never reach full size. Once they have stopped growing overfeeding will only make them obese.
Much can learned about the health condition of the fish by examining its head. The forehead area should be convex and fully shaped. A lack of proper nutrition will cause the forehead to be sunken. Its diet may have been poor or it may have a parasite infection. If the tank water quality is not up to standards the fish will stop eating and become malnourished. Look at the dorsal fin. It should not be pointed and sharp.
Beware of a Discus fish with sunken eyes and poor color. Ask the Discuss fish breeders to feed the fish so you can observe their eating habits. Their appetite should be good.
Look for any obvious signs of skin problems or torn fins. The color should be vibrant and not dull.
An adult fish will have a normal breathing rate or around 70 breaths per minute. A younger fish can be a bit faster. An improper breathing rate could be a sign of poor living conditions and an unhealthy fish.
Following a few of these simple guidelines will insure that you will find quality Discuss fish for sale.
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