Some Secrets with the Discus Fish Definitely one of the more attractive and popular fresh water fishes, the discus fish has been a mainstay in may aquariums all round the globe. Although the fish commands a high price, many people have sought its presence because of its beautiful patterns and color, and they are virtually easy to keep. Also, be warned that over handling the fish may result to its death. So you need to have a very keen observation so that you will be able to truly determine the sex. You will need to be very patient and to follow the fish well, for those who do not know the differences between the male and the female, it would be very hard to discover its gender. The aquarium size is one of the most important things that you need to consider. Discus fish thrives in deep water. So, you may want to get a large tank that is both wide and deep. Discus fish can grow up to 6 or even 7 inches. Now, because you have to have at least 6 discus fish together in the aquarium, you will definitely need a larger tank. With the volume of water, most discus fish experts would agree that for each discus fish, 10 gallons would be necessary. To maximize the surface area, a rectangular tank is usually recommended. When buying a tank, the surface area is one of the important considerations. The tank surface area is necessary because this is where the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchanges. You should also always keep your tank clean and soft, keep away heavy metals and invest in a good filtration system or purifying unit. Keep the water slow moving and with temperatures between 82 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. When adding other fish to your tank, make sure that your discus fish is the largest in the tank. Also, with larger tanks, maintaining water quality is a lot easier than smaller tanks. And, you have to keep in mind that Discus Fish are rather sensitive when it comes to water quality. Water quality is very important if you plan on keeping a Discus Fish. Try to keep the water clean and also its chemistry stable.