If you’ve tried a tropical discus food and it’s not helping your fish, it’s time to discontinue using it. In this article, we’ll discuss the ingredients in tropical discus food and why you should stop using it. You’ll also discover what you can feed discus fish, including common foods.
Ingredients in tropical discus food
One of the most important ingredients in tropical discus food is fresh seafood. This is essential for discus, which require plenty of fats to survive. Fish proteins and crustacean oil are excellent sources of fats. Brine shrimp are also high in fats and protein. These are excellent choices for young discus. Alternatively, you can culture your own brine shrimp.
Discus can be found in the lowland Amazon River basin, where they live in flooded forests and floodplain lakes. This area experiences severe seasonal flooding, and so they tend to congregate near fallen trees. They also prefer quiet water; they rarely live in areas with strong currents.
Vitamins are also important for discus. Vitamins are not energy-rich, but they provide essential building blocks for proper body function. They are especially important for the production of enzymes. Some of the best sources of vitamins are crustaceans, algae, and vegetables. The combination of these three types of food can provide the nutrients and vitamins that your discus needs.
Tropical discus food should be balanced in protein and fat. It should contain a minimum of 30% protein per serving. A larger discus will require more protein. Smaller discus, however, can be fed less frequently.
Common fish foods for discus fish
Live foods are an excellent source of nutrition for discus fish. One of the best types of live foods to give discus is blackworms, which can be placed in a worm feeder. Live food will drive discus into a feeding frenzy. Other acceptable live foods include blood worms, nightcrawlers, and shrimp.
Discus fish typically eat two or three times a day. Feeding them more than this may result in them becoming obese, as well as a dirty tank. For this reason, discus keepers should aim to feed them about 3% of their body weight per feeding. For instance, a fish weighing 75 grams needs to be fed 2.25 grams of food twice daily. Smaller discus eat food more quickly, so you may need to feed them less frequently than larger discus.
In addition to live foods, discus fish should be fed foods that contain vitamins. These vitamins are essential for discus fish to maintain a healthy body. While these nutrients do not provide energy, they provide the building blocks essential for proper functioning. Especially for discus fish, vitamins are vital for the production of enzymes and other bodily functions. Some of the best sources of vitamins for discus fish include vegetables, algae, and crustaceans.
Frozen foods are another option. These are available in most pet stores and are easy to feed. They come in the form of small frozen cubes that your discus can easily eat. One of the most convenient types of frozen food is Hikari BioPure, which contains shrimp, krill, and beef heart. These foods are not only convenient, but they are also high in protein.
