Asian breeders take their discus fish seriously. Many derive 100% of their income from the discus and in some cases, their tanks receive better care than their own households. I visited facilities large and small in Asia and noted that food supply, water, temperature, and labor are plentiful and inexpensive, creating an environment ideal for the keeping of discus fish.

The Asian hatchery…
Working and breeding conditions vary widely. In the larger hatcheries, tanks are kept clean by a staff of many employees and ion exchange systems, wet-dry central filtration, and huge water-storage vats are often used. Some hatcheries are outdoors in direct sunlight where algae growth turns the water so green that the discus must swim to the glass to be seen. There are facilities that use no filtration, relying instead on water changes. Nearly 90% of the water is replaced two to three times daily, often leaving the discus lying sideways on the tank bottom during the process. One breeder used no air at all—nothing but a bare tank with water! Yet in nearly every case, healthy discus were seen swimming about, begging for food, and breeding ...