How to Increase Red Color in a Blue Cobalt Discus

The blue cobalt discus is a very environmentally sensitive fish, so any enhancing of its coloration needs to be done through a food-borne application. Changing the lighting or water conditions could lead to stress and introduce disease into the tank. Using food rich in carotenoid pigments is the most effective solution for increasing the red coloring in your blue cobalt discus. The carotenoid most easily introduced in fish food is astaxanthin. It is a component found in red algae and harvested from krill that feast upon the algae. Pure astaxanthin or canthaxanthin (synthetic astaxanthin) can also be added as a supplement to the diet of the fish, but it is much harder to find than a color-enhancing food or quick frozen krill.

Things You'll Need

  • Color-enhancing fish food
  • Astaxanthin or canthaxanthin
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Instructions

    • 1

      Feed your fish twice a day with the color-enhancing food. Take care not to put more in the tank than the fish will consume in a five-minute period. Any excess food will break down in the tank and start to cause ammonia and nitrite pollution.

    • 2

      Purchase pure astaxanthin or canthaxanthin from an online retailer or specialty food store if the color-enhancing food does not produce sufficient results. The packages range in size from 2 to 50 pounds. Two pounds will be more than enough for enhancing up to six siscus.

    • 3

      Add one teaspoon of pure astaxanthin or canthaxanthin to the tank per fish, per feeding. Continue this treatment for two weeks. If the coloration is enhanced to your liking continue the dosage in the same manner. If the color isn't strong enough, up the dose 1/2 teaspoon for two weeks. Continue this until your discus are blue with bright red stripes.