Knowing more about Discus varieties will increase your appreciation of the fish. Success in maintaining the health of your Discus will provide for greater enjoyment. Below are some tips to keep a healthy Discus:

1) Quarantine - Newly bought discus are prone to the 'Discus Black Disease'. An attack is obvious when most of the Discus fish in the aquarium stack together or rub against objects, and their bodies turn black and the fin become cloudy. This disease spreads rapidly, therefore, newly bought Discus must not mix immediately with the existing fish in your aquarium. In the event of an outbreak, appropriate treatment must be carried out immediately to prevent serious damage or mortality.

2) Discus fish are very vulnerable to internal parasitic infections when they are exposed to low water temperatures. The symptoms are pale body colours, loss of appetite, a thin body, white feces or long feces. Regular de-worming with effective medication will ensure your discus grow bigger, faster, healthier and more colourful.

3) Problems like cloudy fins, cloudy eyes, folded fins and excessive mucus are very common in Discus fish. These are symptoms of a bacteria infection due to poor water quality. Treatment with appropriate medication will eliminate the problem. Remember not to overfeed or overcrowd your fish.

4) When Discus fish keep scraping against objects and twisting their head, it is a sure sign of an external parasitic infection. It can lead to a more serious problem if left unattended. Proper treatment will eliminate the parasites.

There are many remedies for ornamental fish that are available in the market. Unfortunately, not all remedies are effective for treating Discus. Using those that are specially formulated for Discus will ensure the success of your treatment.