Discus fish take a long times to grow, but discus fish also require patience in the growth of the discus fish. Discus fish will take an eighteen month period to go from small fry to large adult fish. During this period, the discus fish will pass through a variety of life stages.
Each stage of growth for discus fish come with specific care requirements. For instance, the needs of a small fry discus fish are entirely different than those needs for an adult discus fish. Discus fish fry depend upon the mucus that are secreted from adult discus fish to survive their early life stages.
Discus Fish Growth and Care
The fry eat the mucus in order to grow, as well as to gain protection from illness. After discus fry begin to eat brine shrimp, their growth begins to accelerate. However, they are still fragile during this period.
Therefore, they should be fed small meals frequent, and the owner should also change the water frequently in order to avoid dirty water resulting from their food. Both clean water and steady food are required for the growth of discus fish, and these two factors is more important than any other add-on or products available for discus fish tanks. When discus fish reach the middle portion of their juvenile period, their bodies begins to take the discus shape.
During this period, a variety in their diet is offered to the fish. Discus fish benefit the most from a variety of high-protein foods. Foods like beefheart blends, pellets, and frozen foods can be fed to discus fish during this period.
However, variety in food is the best option compared to feeding one type of food to discus fish every single day. Although there may be no discernable change in the size of discus fish each day, feeding them variety in their diet result in significant change in their growth over the course of a year. Stability in the water temperature becomes essential for discus fish after the juvenile period of their lives.
Discus fish prefer warm water temperatures. Should the temperature of the water be allowed to fluctuate from the desired temperature of the discus fish, there appetite will decrease. In order to maintain the proper water temperature for discus fish, a owner should purchase a heater with a reliable controller.
Using such a heater will allow the discus fish to maintain its metabolism and its defenses against diseases. At the sub-adult period of their lives, discus fish reach the size where they require larger tanks to contain them. As the size of discus fish increases, their needs for the aquarium increases, as well.
If too many discus fish is contained within a small tank, they will compete for food with one another. Furthermore, stress caused by crowding can lead to fading of the color of their bodies, as well as clamping of their fins. By ensuring that the discus fish have enough space within the tank, it is possible to monitor their health to see if they is stressed or losing their appetite.
At the adult period of their lives, discus fish grow at a slower rate then they did while juveniles. However, they still require regular water changes and feeding. The full coloration of adult discus fish develop only after several months of feeding them a balanced diet and maintaining their water conditions.
While the size and beauty of discus fish are two different features of these fish, each still depend upon stable water conditions and maintenance to develop and maintain their features. Many people make the mistake of rushing the growth of their discus fish. When people observe a large discus fish in a pet store, they believe that they’re own discus fish will grow to that same size within the same amount of time.
However, store discus fish are often adult fish, and have taken years to reach their full size and color. By comparing the size and features of their own discus fish to the chart that depicts the growth stages of discus fish, people can more accurately observe the growth of their own discus pets. If the growth of a discus fish appears to have stalled, the owner should inspect the habits of the fishs water changes, feeding frequency, and temperature.
Should any of these factors be out of line with the requirements for discus fish, the owner should take corrective measures. However, should the growth of the discus fish suddenly stop, there is no need to provide new supplements to the tank. Instead, the owner should inspect these three factors.
The growth chart is an essential visual tool in observing the growth of discus fish. While daily maintenance and observation of the fish is still required, the growth chart allow the owner to easily track the slow growth of their discus fish. By using this chart and understanding the growth stages of their discus fish, owners can make certain that they are providing proper care to their fish, and help ensure that their discus fish will live healthy lives for many years.
