Discus

For aquarium enthusiasts, discus fish are one of the most beautiful and sought-after species. These freshwater fish, which are prized for their vivid hues and distinctive shapes, add elegance to any aquarium. They are visually pleasing due to their round, disc-like bodies, but they also exhibit fascinating behaviors that will pique the interest of anyone who is interested in aquatic life.

Discus fish are indigenous to the Amazon River basin, where their habitat of slow-moving waters and thick vegetation is ideal for their survival. It can be a rewarding challenge to replicate their natural habitat in your aquarium, but it does require careful consideration of tank setup and water quality. In the end, a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing aquarium environment can result from knowing their unique needs.

Apart from their gorgeous looks, discus fish have unique personalities. Their interactions can be delightful to watch, and they frequently form close-knit groups. Entering the world of discus fish can be a fulfilling and enriching experience, regardless of your level of experience.

Topic Description
Appearance Discus fish have a distinctive round, flat shape with bright, vibrant colors like red, blue, and green. They are often patterned with stripes or spots.
Size Discus can grow up to 8-10 inches in diameter. They are relatively large compared to other freshwater fish.
Habitat They are native to the Amazon River basin in South America, where they live in slow-moving waters with plenty of plant cover.
Behavior Discus fish are known for their calm and peaceful nature. They prefer to be in groups and can be quite social with their own kind.
Tank Requirements Discus need a well-maintained tank with soft, acidic water. They thrive in temperatures between 82-86°F (28-30°C) and need good filtration.
Diet They are omnivores and eat a mix of high-quality pellets, frozen foods, and live foods like worms and brine shrimp.
Compatibility Discus are best kept with other peaceful fish that prefer similar water conditions. They may not do well with very aggressive or fast-moving species.

Description of aquarium fish discus

Picture of a discus fish

This graceful fish has a rounded disc-shaped body that is flattened on the sides. Their length can range from 15 to 25 cm, depending on the type. Discus have a small mouth and a forehead that rises sharply. The tiny eyes are typically a vivid red color. A natural discus’s body is colored in shades ranging from dark brownish to blue and green, with nine dark vertical stripes running the length of it. The back fins have a saber-like shape, while the dorsal and anal fins are rounded with an extended base.

History of discus

Picture of a discus fish

The first discus were named Symphysodon discus Heckel (also known as "Heckel’s discus") after the Austrian ichthyologist and zoologist Johann Jakob Heckel (German: Johann Jakob Heckel), who made the discovery in the freshwaters of the Amazon in 1840.

The green discus, or Symphysodon aequifasciatus Pellegrin, was the second species of discus to be described in 1904.

Two subspecies of the discus S. aequifasciatus were described in the years 1960–1961, as a result of multiple scientific expeditions: Symphysodon aequifasciatus axelrodi Schultz (brown discus) and Symphysodon aequifasciatus haraldi Schultz (blue discus).

Picture of a discus fish

After 20 years of waiting for the next discus variety, a new subspecies, Symphysodon discus willischwartzi Burgess, was described in 1981. It was named for Willi Schwartz, the largest aquarium fish exporter from Brazil.

Diskus fish caught in the developed regions of the Amazon began to appear in an increasing variety of colors in the 1990s, including brown, blue, and green.

Many selective varieties of discus fish, which are available for purchase nowadays, have colors that are significantly brighter than those of wild fish that have been captured in the wild.

Recommendations for buying discus fish

Pictures of discus fish

When purchasing discus fish, keep in mind that you should carefully select healthy individuals rather than giving in to the seller’s captivating stories and strong emotions.

Look for a reputable breeder or seller of discus fish instead of rushing into buying from the first person you come across.

It is best not to buy discus fish with twisted mouths, diseased fins and tails, skin damage, swollen eyes, and insufficient gill covers. These are all indicators of poor discus health and incapacity to reproduce.

Picture of a discus fish

Inquiring about the age of the fish, the maintenance conditions, and the food that the discus are used to is definitely worthwhile when dealing with the seller or breeder.

Discus can be purchased as early as 1.5 months of age; the fish should be roughly 2.5 cm long at this time.

It is important to note that trustworthy and practical containers should be prepared in advance for transportation, with water that is no colder than 27 degrees Celsius.

If you’re a discus aficionado, you should research the evaluation criteria before making a purchase. Generally speaking, the perfect discus should be perfectly round; long muzzles and bodies are not appreciated. The cost is also influenced by the body pattern and coloring quality.

Keeping discus in an aquarium

Picture of a discus fish being maintained

The minimum capacity for a discus aquarium is 100 liters per pair. Not the volume, but the aquarium’s length is important in this situation. In other words, a 100-liter aquarium that is long (35 cm) and low (35 cm) could theoretically support fairly good discus growth. We want novices to be aware that the example provided is still on the extreme end of the spectrum. Large schooling fish like discus need large volumes. Rickets will pull the fish down in small quantities.

For discus, the ideal aquarium length is 120 centimeters (120 * 50 * 50), but shorter aquariums work best as well. For a herd of discus, an average pharmacy’s ideal aquarium volume is 300 liters. A half ton is simply fantastic! One ton is awesome, too, provided your spouse doesn’t kill you with a broom!

You should also be aware that discus are schooling fish when it comes to volumes. Six to eight people make up a good herd. As a result, if you choose to have a discussion, it is preferable to address the matter fully from the outset rather than to engage in half-covering.

Pisces prefer water that is warm, soft, and slightly acidic; a reverse osmosis filter can frequently provide this. Peat extracts, such as Tetra Toru mina, are another option. Adding a carbon dioxide supply is also advised for aquariums containing live plants. The cleanliness of the water and soil needs special consideration. Aquarists typically use two or more purification filters as a result. Aeration of the water is required. There is moderate lighting. In the aquarium, there are stone and driftwood shelters. It is advised to replace the water with fresh water, at least 20 to 30 percent, once or twice a week.

Picture of a discus fish being maintained

Some aquarists believe that maintaining discus in aquariums with bare (non-substrate) bottoms is the best approach, despite the fact that it is not very visually appealing. It is simple to remove rotting debris and excrement from the tank because there is no substrate. This is a good method to maintain consistent water quality.

However, in our meek opinion at Aquascape, it is preferable to continue adding sand and artistically adorn the aquarium with stones and driftwood. Regardless of perspective, an aquarium is a work of art and creativity rather than a glass room used to temporarily house felons in fish prisons. Bare glass is required for discus breeding due to routine.

Discus fish are peaceful, in contrast to many other members of the cichlid family. You might hear from some discus-obsessed friends that discus are animals with horrible intraspecific aggression. In this instance, guppies are also demon-cannibals since they consume their young like ointment-filled dumplings.

It is quite challenging to identify discus aggressors. Neons, for example, are good neighbors because they are peaceful haracinks. Apistorhams, Ancistrus, and Ancalaria are dwarf cichlid fish. Loricariid catfish, corydoras, etc.

Picture of a discus fish being maintained

Discus are at ease in aquariums with a lot of vegetation, such as ferns, vallisneria, nymphaea, anubias, echinodorus, and ambulia. The plants that can be kept in discus are limited by their high temperatures. Every plant prefers 22–23 degrees of cool water. Many herbs will grow at, say, the age of 28, but the question is more about the habit of the plant and its quality of life. For this reason, the plants in the discus tank should be oak, low maintenance, and unassuming.

Recall that discus are extremely sensitive to high levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates—nitrogen compounds. Fish longevity is largely dependent on maintaining the appropriate water parameters. As many of you are aware, ammonia, ammonium, and other nitrogen compounds become more "nuclear" as water temperature rises. As a result, even minor disruptions in the nitrogen cycle in an aquarium containing discus can cause serious issues.

Drop tests are something that every responsible aquarist should always have on hand, if only for phosphate and nitrate. Thankfully, they are now affordable, and there are no issues with their acquisition or variety. For instance, we can confidently suggest to you the cool UHE drip tests that we have personally tested, but they are only available online. You can get cheap Vladox tests in offline stores in your city. Friends, beware of nitrogen compounds. If you control them, you and your pets should be fine.

Feeding and diet discus

Discourse on feeding

As predatory fish, discus primarily consume small fish, fry, and larvae as well as a variety of aquatic insects and invertebrates in their natural habitat.

In an aquarium setting, discus aren’t the kind of fish that will consume everything at once. These African cichlids are not the same as the ones found in Malawi and Tanganyika, where they eat anything that falls into the water.

Every single one of our domestic discus breeders will tell you that live food is best. Disco shrimp and frozen bloodworms are what you should feed them. Naturally, though, homemade minced meat is the most essential ingredient! Simultaneously, every mince-veda will extol his own recipe, claiming it to be the most robust and well-rounded for discus.

I have not included beans, mussels, shrimp, parsley, lettuce, spinach, garlic, bananas, apple, carrot, or, heaven forbid, dandelion inflorescences in this mince. Delicious! Not only that, but we also threw two chicken eggs, some green pepper (you can use red), a shovel full of bloodworms, and two handfuls of brine shrimp on top of the dandelions. I apologize for forgetting to add the squid, octopus, nettles, and, seriously, five Revit or Udevit vitamin pills on top.

Are we able to record it in writing? Ugh… then please finish it. You can also add: two jars of baby food with broccoli and pumpkin, a teaspoon of fish oil, kiwis, two handfuls of spirulina, and, of course, dragon scales from the intimate area.

Furthermore, you’re incorrect if you believe we’re kidding. You can verify that the information above is real by searching for "minced meat recipe for discus" on Google Yandex.

How balanced is it in comparison to the same branded feeds is another question. An unanswered query.

– Do fish prefer to eat my minced meat? The people who love minced meat will not agree.

– Interesting. Then serve it to a girl you’re going on a date with some cream on top. It will be more effective than any female arousal from a pharmacy.

FF is not against minced meat; to each his own. All we are doing is highlighting the absurdity surrounding this mess’s harmonious composition. Minced meat is a cruel fetish that never ends.

If jokes are excluded, then it is evident that young discus begin life on live food before progressively moving on to minced meat. In actuality, this is what all breeders actually do with any young fish of any other fish. However, adult discus can be switched to premium dry food at a run if they are a year old or older.

Also, a lot of hobby discus breeders observe this. They spawn frequently and thrive well on branded food, which has been perfectly transferred to their discus.

There will always be those who prefer homemade food, brine shrimp, and bloodworms over minced meat. You can actually grow healthy discus horses on such fresh protein feed! Even if we ignore the feeding method’s obvious non-ergonomics, homemade feeds are still, to put it mildly, unbalanced. As many of you are aware, discus are fish that are consumed. These fish’s closest companions are phimosis, endomecriosis, diarrhea, and hex (gesamitosis). There is no doubt that the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms into fish intestines is caused by artemia, bloodworms, and homemade products. Pets’ fatty livers can be directly caused by "balanced" minced meats.

Generally speaking, as always, the decision is yours. The words of our beloved William Shakespeare apply here: nothing in this world is good or bad. The only thing exists is our perspective on it.

We suggest that you pay attention to the Tetra Discus partner feeds, which are premium branded feeds. Tetra Discus Pro, Color, or Energy. We believe that their quality won’t be contested. This series is consumed by all fish, not just discus, to the point where you can hear a whistle, crunch, and chomp behind the gills.

Tetra discus sustenance

Fish in good health are not ostentatious and will accept food that is offered to them. Discus needs to be fed two or three times a day, in little portions.

It should be mentioned that when purchasing any dry food, you should be aware of the manufacture and expiration dates, avoid purchasing food by weight, and store it in a closed environment to prevent the growth of harmful flora.

Because of their striking colors and distinctive shapes, discus fish are a favorite choice among aquarium enthusiasts and make eye-catching focal points in any tank. This article will help both new and seasoned aquarists learn the best practices for keeping these lovely fish thriving in a home aquarium by examining the essential care requirements for Discus, including their ideal environment, dietary needs, and common health issues.

Types and breeds of discus

Picture of different types of discus fish

Due to selection, there are a plethora of discus breeds today that are extremely difficult to comprehend because different specimens with similar colors go by different names.

Currently, there are three species of discus known to exist in the wild: red discus (Symphysodon discus), green discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus), and discus Heckel’s. Heiko Bleher’s brown discus (Symphysodon haraldi), the third type, was described.

The article ALL TYPES OF DISCUS PHOTOS features a selection of discus breeds and varieties.

Pictures of different types of discus fish

We then present a few of the most well-liked discus color variants.

The body color of red discus ranges from blood red to fiery orange. Certain types of red discus require specific nutrition in order to keep their color vibrant. Some breeds, like Super Red, have the word "Super" in their names.

Talk about Alenquer Red (Alenquer Red)

Red Alenquer, also known as Alenquer Red, is the most well-liked red discus representative. Juveniles are brown with a hint of orange, adult males range in color from brown to brick red, and females are fiery red. The body of Discus Alenquer Red is flat and round. The caudal fin is reached by the pectoral and dorsal fins. An adult can grow up to 20 cm in length. The fish quickly deteriorate and turn brown when there is no selection.

Red Eddy’s discussion photo

An intriguing variation with orange color and red and blue spots was obtained from the red Alenker – Red Eddy (Red Eddy).

A delightfully beautiful fish for any freshwater aquarium is the Red Ruby Discus. To create specimens with a rich, brilliant color, multiple discus varieties were carefully crossed. The bodies of juvenile red ruby discus are golden with a hint of red. The fish’s color deepens with maturity. There are no different types of grooves or spots on the body, and the color of the head and body ranges from white to golden. The red ruby discus has light-colored grooves that form lines on its dorsal and pectoral fins. The fish’s tail fin shares the same hue as its body.

The dorsal and pectoral fins draw attention to the red ruby discus’s rounded form. An adult can grow up to 20 cm in length. This exquisite discus variety, which resembles a burst of reddish-orange foliage, will undoubtedly draw attention to your freshwater aquarium.

Red Melon Discussion Photo (Discus Red Melon)

The red melon discus, or discus red melon (also called discus red melon), is a species of discus that was selected to have a pure red-orange body color, a pale orange or gray head, and scarlet eyes. The colors of the head and body are reflected in the dorsal and pectoral fins. An adult can grow up to 20 cm in length. first made available in Thailand in 1991.

The entire body and fins of cobalt discus are adorned with shimmering stripes and sparkles, giving them a blue-violet hue. obtained by putting the Blue Discus and Heckel Discus together.

Image of a Royal Blue Discus

The Royal Blue Discus is a visually striking example of cobalt discus. The following varieties can be identified based on the shade and saturation: blue cobalt (Cobalt Blue), turquoise cobalt (Turquoise Cobalt), metallic cobalt (Metallic Cobalt), and uniformly cobalt (Solid Cobalt).

The body color of a turquoise discus is bluish-green. The most well-known model, Snake Skin (Snake Skin Turquoise), first appeared on the Russian market in the 1970s.

It’s important to remember that the snakeskin discus was created by accidentally crossing blue and brown discus that were taken from the wild. The small scale pattern that sets the fish apart is strikingly similar to the skin of a snake. For this reason, the name of any discus fish with 14 or 16 transverse stripes starts with the prefix Snake Skin.

Pigeonblooddiscus.jpg Blue Blood Conversation

Blue Blood Discus have a body color from yellow to reddish, and the main color is tangerine yellow, because.. the absence of melanin has led to the loss of blue and green pigments. Sinuous blue and red stripes extend along the entire body. The ventral, pectoral and anal fins are black. The iris of the eyes is bright red. A distinctive feature of blue blood discus is that all the melanin is expressed in the form of black coating on the periphery of the body and on the frontal part of the fish"s head. The most popular representative is Diskus Blue Blood, for which there are red, super red, mother -of -pearl (Pearl PIGEON BLOOD), Gold (Gold Pigeon Blood) and Orange (Orange Pieon Blood).

It is noteworthy that the red turquoise and turquoise discus were crossed in Thailand to create the blue blood discus. Consequently, the fish became snow-white with longitudinal red wavy stripes running the length of its body. Red and white stripes are used to adorn the fins.

The bodies of golden discus are golden in color. The Super Gold discus is particularly stunning since it lacks dark pigment and is exceptionally bright.

This variation was obtained in Malaysia as a result of selection. Genetic work consisted of numerous backcrosses and inbreeding, as a result of which individuals of a light brown color were often obtained, which did not allow the golden color to be fixed. The first specimens of golden discus had a light, yellowish, and in places almost transparent body with red eyes and the absence of pronounced stress stripes. The difficulty of obtaining and the East"s love for everything golden made this type of discus very expensive. Subsequently, to strengthen the golden yellow color, the golden disc with yellow (PIGEON BLOOD) was crossed. Yellow genes were stronger and offspring was more like Pigeon Blood than a golden discus.

Image Snowwhite: Talk about white discs

White discs that were acquired through selection. The primary body color is pure white, though the fins may stain a little bit red and green. The eyes have very little color. These reasons explain why this kind of discus is most frequently used to create new species.

Breeding and propagation of discs

Cultivating and spreading discus

It’s difficult to figure out the discus’s floor. Males have thicker lips and more pointed fins than females.They are also bigger and brighter than females. Buying a set of discus and waiting for a couple to form is the best option.

In order to successfully breed discus, maintenance and feeding guidelines must be closely followed. The fish are separated into pairs as they get older. The discus pair that has formed is placed in a dedicated, ready-made spawning tank.

Talk about the caviar picture.

The female can deposit her eggs on driftwood, cleaned substrate, conical decorations, and broad-leaved plants (echinodorus, anubias). You can purchase specialized cones for your pets’ spawning if you wish to breed discus closely or if you simply want to give them greater convenience. similar to these.

Most importantly, these cones are useful for manipulations; for example, you can move an egg clutch to another aquarium for future incubation without producers. Discus like to spawn on these cones. It is best to take cones made of black clay, like those in the above photo, if you leave such decorations in the store. These are Gloxy decorative cones. They resemble brick analogs in the aquarium and are coarser-looking than red.

A female discus can lay anywhere between 200 and 400 eggs, which the male then fertilizes. Warm, supple, and slightly acidic water is ideal for breeding. Eggs are protected by their parents and hatch in about two days.

Picture of a Discus fry

Talk about fry

The first 1 – 2 weeks after hatching, the fry feed on the skin secretions secreted by the parents. At this stage, the first conflicts between the new parents may occur in cases where little or no mucus is secreted on the body of one of the parents. The consequence is the destruction of the offspring. In order to prevent the death of the fry, there are many ways to protect them. For example, a mesh with cells stretched in the aquarium between the parents, allowing the fry to swim freely from one parent to the other. Adult discus fry are fed brine shrimp, nauplii with a gradual transition to regular vitaminized discus food.

It is important to remember that keeping the aquarium clean when keeping discus fry is crucial. Fish must be fed continuously throughout the day in small portions, and the timely removal of food remnants is essential to their healthy development.

Common diseases of discus

Common illnesses in discus

Every fish is vulnerable to illness. An aquarium that is kept up properly will never become a disease hotspot.

The primary symptoms include fast breathing, dizziness, swelling of the abdomen or eyes, fin rot, leeches on the discus’s body, bacterially-induced skin ulcers, infectious parasites, white, thread-like feces, and cloudy eyes.

The main diseases include intestinal diseases, bacterial infections (bacterial or Asian), dropsy, and various fungal infections. Diseases of the external organs include gill and skin worms-flukes (monogenea).

By keeping the tank clean and changing the water frequently, the majority of these illnesses can be prevented.

Remember that everything you put in an aquarium with discus has the potential to harbor parasites or bacteria! Plastic jewelry and other inanimate materials like clay and plastic can pose a risk to your fish. Thus, before adding any new decorations or filter elements to the aquarium, make sure to quarantine them and give them a thorough cleaning.

Interesting facts about discus

Unicorn Talk

– The "Unicorn" discus in the above image has undergone a spontaneous genetic mutation; the cause of this mutation is still unknown.

– Discus have gradually replaced goldfish, colored koi carp, guppies, and other aquarium inhabitants in traditional competitions held at major international forums.

Discus uses a unique skin secretion to feed its fry. As a result, the fry swim close to their parents during their early days of life.

– Discus establish pairs early in life, mate, and raise their young together.

– In 1932, discus shipments to Europe started.

These and a lot of other fish are always available at the online store Aqua-Shop or the physical super-brakes Aqua Logo. Live goods delivery is offered in Moscow and the surrounding areas.

The true stars of any aquarium are the discus fish. Experienced enthusiasts and novices alike will find them captivating due to their vivid hues and elegant motions. Compared to some other fish, they do need a little more care and attention, but the benefits are well worth the effort. These fish can flourish in the correct conditions and add a dash of exotic beauty to your tank.

Keep in mind that discus require a clean, stable environment when setting up a tank. They’ll stay happy and healthy in a well-filtered tank filled with soft, slightly acidic water. Appropriate feeding and routine water changes are essential. You can improve your discus’s inherent beauty and make a warm and inviting home for them by taking care of these requirements.

In the end, maintaining discus can be a very fulfilling endeavor. Their striking looks and distinct personalities can make them the center of attention in your aquarium. Your discus will thrive with the correct setup and care, bringing a bright splash of color to your aquatic environment.

Video on the topic

How many discus can be kept in 100 liters.

Discus for beginners # Basic rules of discus breeding and aquaristics .

Everything about discus in an aquarium, well, almost everything!

What part of aquarium maintenance do you consider the most difficult?
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Olga Vishnevskaya

Biologist by education, aquarist by vocation. Specialization — breeding and care of freshwater aquarium plants. Since childhood I have been fond of aquariums, constantly experimenting with creating biotopes and selecting flora for various types of aquariums. I am sure that green aquariums can transform any interior and improve the quality of life.

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