How to introduce new fish to your tank

The OZ Discus team explains what to do when you receive your Discus and how to acclimatise them to your fish tank.

Checklist

Step 1: Prepare your bucket

The best way to introduce new fish is to use a quarantine tank, but not everyone has the ability to quarantine their fish at home. If a spare tank isn’t available you can use a bucket to acclimatise your fish.

Fill a 20L bucket with water from your tank and place an air stone into the bucket. Add 1mL of Melafix Pond into the bucket.

Make sure you use clean supplies and equipment that are separate to what you use for your main aquarium.

Melafix Pond (5ml per 200L Strength)
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Step 2: Transfer your fish into your bucket

Unbag your fish, making sure you don’t let the water from the bag touch the bucket.

Place the fish in the bucket and let it sit for 20 minutes.

Step 3: Transfer your fish into your aquarium

Remove the air stone from the bucket.

Next, catch the fish out of the bucket and place it in your aquarium.

Add 5mL per 200L of Melafix Pond to your aquarium every day for 7 days.

On Day 2, complete a 50%+ water change.

Step 4: Monitor your fish

If the Discus are okay on Day 3 or 4, continue with Melafix Pond until 7 days is completed.

If on Day 3 or 4 the Discus seem to clam up or begin producing excessive mucus on their body (that look like cobwebs), are not eating, have a darkened body, jolting movement, or are rubbing their gills on objects, then stop the Melafix Pond and immediately change to using Blue Planet Aquaricycline for 7 days with 100% water change daily.

This is recommended to be done in a hospital tank as Aquaricycline will eliminate all beneficial bacteria in your filtration system.

Aquaricycline 100 tablets
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Ready to learn more?

Visit our Learning Hub to discover what you should know before owning Discus, what you should feed your Discus, and the basics of tank filters.

Disclaimer: This is a guide only. OZ Discus is not liable for any losses and holds no responsibility in the event of the death of the fish. Users of this guide are to use the information at their own discretion and accept all risks resulting from the use of this guide.