Why is keeping Discus so Popular these days?

The discus is sometimes referred to as the “King of Aquarium Fish”. This is an accolade it well deserves, as a discus in its full glory, exuding its delicate grace and beauty, is quite an amazing sight to behold.

The discus has also gained repute as Feng Shui fish in Asia. The species has been attracting a steady stream of fans in countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia for many years. And despite changes in fish-keeping trends over time, it remains a hot favorite amongst fish fanciers.

Reasons for the Popularity of Discus:

Simply Beautiful.With successive breeding of wild discus, commercial breeders have generated an infinite variety of new strains with fascinating colors and alluring body markings. These include the spotted (eg. Leopard Snakeskin), striped (eg. Turquoise) and solid-color (eg. Blue Diamond) varieties.

Tranquil and Graceful. The discus is not a territorial species, but mild and tranquil in nature. Watching these beautiful and elegant swimmers is pure joy, and a most relaxing thing to do.

Relatively Easy to Care For. Do not underestimate this fancy-looking fish – it may be beautiful, but is not fragile. Compared to wild discus that come from the acidic, slow-moving waters of the Amazon rainforest, modern aquarium-bred strains are considerably easier to maintain. In fact, once you have acquired the know-how, you can even adjust their routine to suit yours by balancing their diet and physical environment.

Educational Hobby for Kids. Keeping pets help children cultivate a sense of responsibility. If you are unable to keep pets like dogs and cats, which require considerable time and attention, keeping fish such as the discus is the next best alternative.

With the proper diet and good water quality, discus will be encouraged to pair up and spawn. Discus are cichlids – a species that takes care of its eggs and young. Most parents have difficulty answering their children’s queries about the birds and the bees. For them, a pair of mating and breeding discus would provide an excellent opportunity in explaining the biological process of reproduction to their little ones!

If the fish do fall ill, children could also be taught the importance of dispensing the proper care required for their ailments.

Having said that, it is your duty, as the owner, to provide the best care possible for your fish.

For advice on keeping these fascinating fish, you can seek the expertise of aquarium dealers specialize in discus if possible. Otherwise any serious discus breeders or hobbyists.

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