Discus Fish Care

Proper diet and nutrition is important for all animals and discus fish are no exception. However, discus fish use the basic units of nutrition in a much different way then humans. Fat is a vital energy source for fish while protein is used primarily as an energy source and growth adapter. Specifically, 35% to 45% of a proper discus fish should be made up of protein. Carbohydrates aren’t an essential element in a fish’s diet. Outside of getting the basic vitamin and mineral from Carb sources, they’re not really needed at all.

Commercial Discus Fish Food

Commercially made food is less nutritious than homemade food but it is easier to use and far more convenient. There are a few varieties of discus food out that can be purchased at stores. Dry food includes flakes, pellets, granules and capsules. Frozen food is typically higher in protein and includes beef heart, brine shrimp and plankton. Live food is another option, which is what discus fish eat in the wild, but it can be difficult to manage and could introduce bacteria or other problems to the tank.

Using Homemade Discus Food

This is generally the most nutritious way to feed your discus fish, but it can also be very time consuming. Many of the ingredients used to make the food is the same as in the commercial foods, only we’re going to use fresher ingredients. Beef heart, shrimp and chicken liver can be used as can most vegetables, broccoli and lettuce come to mind. Typically, everything is mixed and turned into a paste that can be broken up into small bits to be fed into the aquarium. Gelatin is often used to make the paste a little more “solid.” You can check out this guide for some great discus fish recipes.