The need for a large tank is not only because they can grow big, but because they grow big fast. So if you plan on buying a smaller tank know and just upgrading to a bigger one later on, you may find that this would be futile. You would just be spending more in a short period of time. A small tank will just stunt their development and will stress them out. This means that the water should have an acidity level of pH 6 and it should also be soft water. These are the things that you need to remember when you are planning to keep discus fish as pets. Always keep in mind that water chemistry is always important when you consider taking care of these types of fishes. As with any fish, your tank should be kept clean at all times. No creature would like to live in a dump. If you notice that your tank s water is getting dirty, you should change it. You should always clean your tank of leftover food. So that you wouldn t be bothered of cleaning your tank or changing the water often, you could add some sufficient filtration system, some lighting, or maintain some bottom dwelling fish to help clean up the tank. Porkhearts and beefhearts are suitable feeds for Discus Fish. For adult Discus Fish, you will need to feed them two to three times a day. Also, make sure that clean any uneaten foods as these things will secrete ammonia which can eventually increase the PH level. Remember these things and you can be sure that you will be able to keep your Discus Fish alive and healthy. However, you need to keep in mind that although discus fish are considered to be high maintenance fish, you will find that there are other species that can also thrive with the discus fish. And, the best thing about these fish species is that they go along with discus fish and can really enhance the look of your discus fish aquarium. 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. Here are some points which can help you identify the gender of a discus fish. Male discus fish have thicker lips. Discus fish use their mouth to fend off any attackers.