Sunday, March 7, 2010

6 Simple tips before buying a Discus Fish

Discus fish are amazingly beautiful and you might just know how expensive they can be if you’ve done some research on them. You might want to know some easy tips that will surely be a great help for you before deciding to buy discus fish.

A Discus fish should be in good HEALTH. When a fish stays on the top near surface and has bloated gills, it is certainly not healthy. You should also check for strange spots or parasites that hang from the fish. Avoid tanks which are labeled to be DNS – means do not sell or the fish might have diseases.

The second would be the ALERTNESS and RESPONSIVENESS of the fish. Make sure the breeder feed the fish then if the fish does not pay attention in the new food; it is also a sign that the fish is certainly not healthy. The fish should take or show interest in the food. If the dealer will not feed the fish and says he just feed them, then go find another store.

BUY AN ADULT Discus because they are easier to care for. Choosing an adolescent or adult discus will lessen some trouble. Adult fish can handle water condition changes better than babies. This will help you as a starter.

DEALER QUARANTINE is the period when the dealer decides to sell the fish. Ask them how long they have had the fish. It usually takes about 2 weeks to be completely quarantined to avoid the spread of diseases. Make it a point that the dealer knows if the fish have been de-wormed or subjected to any medicines. It is better to have a good background of the history of the fish. Those questions will surely help you.

ETERNAL HEALTH is very much crucial to look out for. Be wise on checking the bottom of the tank because discus fish will pass waste on a normal basis. The waste should be black. White looking feces might be a sign of internal problem such as intestinal worms, so keep a keen eye open. Look for a more healthy fish.

AQUARIUM CHEMISTRY is very important if you are about to buy discus fish. You should ask the dealer few questions like the current conditions of the water of the fish you are going to buy. There is something to correct if your water conditions are far off from the fish owners. If the store owner has strange water conditions, leave them alone because they are not aware of what they do. Ask the fish owner for a recommendation on how to adjust your new discus regarding water conditions before you get home.

Remember these important tips the next time you will buy a brand new discus. This will surely help you by mistake of buying a weak fish that will only last for a couple of weeks.

You might also want to learn more about Tropical Aquarium Fish and Marine Aquarium Fish to help you decide on what type of fish you want to breed.