Discus are generally very pretty, but they also cost more than most other fish. First time / prospective discus buyers are usually overwhelmed with the many different color / pattern strains and often go on emotional response as to which fish to get. They also usually go to their local fish shop (LFS) to purchase their first discus. Unfortunately, many times the store employees are not experienced in keeping discus and will unintentionally give the wrong information. To make matters worse, the discus at many LFS will not have been kept in optimal conditions either.

Here are some photos to help you choose/ select a good fish - regardless if you choose your fish from the breeder's fish farm/ hatchery or a good LFS. As mentioned before, do your homework first. I've seen several newbies/ beginners decide to jump in and get discus only to find out they have ended up with a lot of problems (sick or dying fish usually).

I've also seen many beginners proudly show their newly acquired fish off on forums, only to be told by more experienced discus owners that the fish isn't the "beauty queen" that they thought it was. Embarassed, the beginner will say, "I'm not looking for a show fish" and sympathetic people will say, "if you're happy with it, that's all that matters"... which may be true, however, if you've spent good money on a fish that is supposed to look pretty, shouldn't you get your money's worth? Also, shouldn't you get a fish with the potential to grow out to is fullest maturity and look nice?

Finally, no matter how pretty the fish is or how much you want it, do NOT buy it if it's sick and don't buy any of the other discus sharing that same tank. Period!

Discus Heads. Look at a discus fish straight on/ head on. If their foreheads are pinched. Do not buy that fish (or any other discus in that tank). Chances are that the fish hasn't been eating well and may have internal parasites or other problems. Also many people prefer fish with a nice smooth round profile without any indentations near the eyes. Lastly, pay close attention to the gills and gill covers - if they are breathing very hard for no apparent reason, gasping at the surface, or breathing from one side only, they possibly could have a heavy infestation of flukes or even a bacterial infection.

 

 

Discus waste. Healthy discus feces (poop) should be dark if they've been fed beefheart, sometimes red if they've been fed pellets, and you'll see undigested bloodworm skins if that's what they've been eating. If a discus has long white, stringy feces, do yourself a favor and don't buy that fish. Chances are it has some intestinal problem, infection, or a parasite like hexamita or even tapeworms.

 

 

 

Body coloration, skin, and fins. Discus should appear on the brighter side, if they are dark or if you see gray patches of slime peeling off, they could have either a bacterial problem or a parasitic problem (such as flukes, costia, or chilodonella). Also, their fins should open up. If the dorsal and anal fins are clamped, have a ragged edge, and their tail sags/ droops, chances are that's a sick fish. Believe it or not, the two fish below are of the similar strain as the one below it (the first column are red turquoise type fish and the second column are solid blue type fish).



 

Discus Eyes. The eyes of a discus should be brightly colored. Many people prefer the bright red colored eyes, but you'll find some that are orangish or amber. On most strains, a stress bar will run through the discus' eye, and that can show on and off, but if a discus has dark eyes consistantly, chances are it's in bad health. If it's body is also dark and it's fins are clamped, that's a double whammy and that fish should be avoided. It could have some bacterial or parasitic problems. Also, try to get discus fish with small eyes. Their eyes will grow even when their bodies do not. A discus with very large eyes in proportion to the height of it's head usually hasn't eaten well for awhile or sometime during it's juvenile years. Take a look at the first photo. A good rule thumb regarding eye size, is to keep in mind is that if you were to measure the height of the head through the eyes, the height should be roughly 7 eyes tall.

 

 

 

 
Shape. Discus should be fairly round fish. In the discus hobby, oftentimes you'll hear "football shape" - that's because the body isn't round, but instead enlongated. Don't let the shape of the fins conceal an unround body. Very young discus are not round, but as they grow out and if they are properly cared for, they will 'round out' (unless they have not been carefully bred). Some of the breeders in Asia are producing very high bodied fish, so these will not be as round. Also when you look at a discus fish straight on, the body should seem thick.