Discus Fish

Discus are interesting and beautiful fish that have captured the attention of aquarists throughout the world. These quiet, peaceful, and elegant creatures inspire appreciation and dedication like no other fish. Highly esteemed, they are kept for their color, shape, and regal bearing; often considered to be the pinnacle of fish keeping.

The Discus fish Symphosodon, also called the 'Pompadour Fish' have been know since the last century when they were described in 1840 by Dr. Johann Jacob Heckel. Discus were first imported into the United States and Europe in the 1930's and 1940's. These early efforts to ship and keep these fish proved exceptionally difficult, but much more is now known about their needs and requirements and a dedicated aquarist can successfully keep these fish.

Today most available discus are tank bred varieties and they are widely divergent from the wild caught discus, which require a bit more care. Even so tank bred discus are more demanding of good water quality, require a larger aquarium, and are more expensive than many tropical fish.
For more Information on keeping tropical fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Scientific Names: Symphosodon aequifaciata, Symphosodon discus

There are two species of discus divided into a total of five suggested subspecies with many local color varieties, possibly due to natural hybridization. Through selective breeding a wide variety of body shapes, colors, and patterns are being produced today.

Green Discus, Brown Discus, and Blue Discus: Symphosodon aequifaciata

Perhaps the most popular discus and the species that most development work has been done on are the Symphosodon aequifaciata. One of the first challenges in the hybrids was to develop a solid blue fish and more recently it has been to develop a solid red fish.

Green Discus S. aequifaciata aequifaciata originate in the central Amazon region, mostly from the Putumayo River in northern Peru, and from Brazil near Santarem and the lake of Tefé. Though highly variable in color and pattern, they are rather bland in general. A basic description is a dark brownish to green body, nine vertical bars (though without the bold central bar), and have irregular metallic streaks of green, blue, or turquoise on the belly, dorsal and anal fins, and dorsal area. They reach a length of about 6" (15 cm). One of the most striking variants, which is quite rare and expensive, is known as the 'Tefé Discus' which has red spots on it's belly and tail, sometimes over the entire body.

Of the many strains, the turquoise varieties are the most available, generally in greens or blues, with names such as brilliant turquoise, red turquoise, giant turquoise, and cobalt turquoise. Popular strains that have blue or green streaks over the entire body are called the 'Royal' Greens or blues.

Blue Discus S. aequifaciata haraldi originate in the upper Amazon region in Brazil. These are considered one of the most beautiful and hardiest of the discus. They are very similar to the Brown Discus though a bit longer while the brown is more rounded. They have a darker almost purple brown body, nine vertical bars (without the bold central bar), often have blue horizontal stripes on the head, dorsal and ventral fins, and the face is a deeper brown. Some hybrid strains are called cobalt, powder blue, and sky blue. One beauty is called the Cobalt Blue and is almost entirely blue, sometimes with a metallic sheen. Other specialties will sometimes have blood red spots on the dorsal fins.

Brown Discus S. aequifaciata axelrodi originate in the lower Amazon region in Brazil. Regularly kept for a long time, they are not as colorful as other varieties and are now less available. They have light to dark brown bodies (sometimes reddish), nine vertical bars (without the bold central bar), irregular streaks on the upper and lower fin areas, and yellowish coloring at the base of the dorsal fin, around the eye, and on the snout. They reach a length of about 5 " (13 cm). Redder body colors are sometimes enhanced by adding such things as prawn eggs to their diet, or by adding chemicals to their water. This enhancement is not permanent and will fade in a couple of weeks. They are not as colorful as the Green Discus or the hybrids.

Heckel Discus or Pompadour Discus: Symphosodon discus

The Heckel Discus, also referred to as the Red Heckel, or Blue Heckel, Symphosodon discus discus originate from Brazil in the Rio Negro and the Rio Trombetas north of the Amazon, in places where the water is quiet and heavily planted. The other subspecies, the Pineapple Discus Symphosodon discus willishwartzi is from the Rio Abacaxis south of the Amazon (abacaxis is Portuguese for 'pineapple').

The Heckel Discus have an almost round body and nine stripes. They are distinguised by wide bold black 1st, 5th, and 9th bars, called the "Heckel bars" that run through the eye, the center of the body, and the base of the tail. They have reddish brown background, blue faint horizontal stripes, red edges on the fins and reach a length of about 8" (20 cm). They need a large tall aquarium, at least 40-50" (100-120 cm) in length and 20" (50 cm) in height.

Heckel Discus come from slightly warmer water than the other discus, they prefer a lightly planted aquarium, subdued lighting, and a soft substrate with some roots or rocks. They are a more delicate species and are the least popular, those available are generally wild caught. They are also more difficult to breed. Males breed more easily than females however, so they have been bred with other species.

Care and feeding:

Since they are carnivorous the Discus will generally eat all kinds of live foods and need to be offered a variety. Other good foods include frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms, chopped beef heart, and for some whiteworms. Often tank bred discus will also accept food in a flake form or a pelleted form. Though they are carnivorous, they may also eat small quantities of vegetation.

An aquarium best suited to discus has slightly soft acidic water and is a bit warmer than what is required for many tropical fish. A planted aquarium with an open area for swimming suits them well, but the plants need to be varieties that can tolerate warmer temperatures 82° F and up. Some good plants selections are Dwarf Lily Bulbs, Anubias Nana, MicroSword Grass, Jungle and Corkscrew Vallisneria, Water Onions, Ozelot and Rangeri Swords, Didplis Diandra, Rotala Indica, Java Fern, and Subulata.

Discus do have a timid nature and moving dislike shadows, excessive vibrations, bright lighting especially without a place to retreat to, and overly boisterous tank mates. It is best to keep their aquarium out of areas that have high traffic, lights being turned on and off, or rooms that are noisy. They are also very shy and more active at night.

Distribution:

Discus are native to South America and are found in Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, and Columbia. They inhabit the tributaries of the Amazon River, living in the still or slow moving waters along the banks where they hide among tangled roots and branches.

Size - Weight:

Discus are relatively large and the most laterally compressed (flat) of all the cichlids. Within the discus themselves there is great variety in shading, patterning, and body types. Unlike many others in the cichlid family, discus are peaceful and highly social. They are not predatory and they do not burrow in the substrate.

These fish, depending upon the species, get up to about 6"-10" (15 - 25 cm).

Social Behaviors:

Unlike many others in the cichlid family, discus are peaceful and highly social. They are not predatory and they do not burrow in the substrate.

They are a schooling fish. Several discus can be kept together and they can be kept with some of the more peaceful tropical fish. A couple examples would be a pair of dwarf cichlids or some clown loaches. Also a school consisting of 15 - 20 of a single species of tetra works well; such as the Cardinal, Neon, Rummynose, Glowlight, Emperor, or Congo Tetras. It is suggested that you avoid Angelfishes and Corydoras Catfish, as these fish are prone to carrying internal parasites that can infect the discus.

Sexual Differences:

Although it is hard to distinguish the sex, during breeding season the male will have a more pointed papillae while the female's is rounded. Males may be larger and some males have a more pointed dorsal fin and thicker lips.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:

These fish will swim in the middle and bottom of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:

Hardness: 10-15° dGH
Ph: 6.0 - 6.5
Temp: thrive at 82-88° F (27.7-31° C), min 79-86° F (26-30° C)
(Discus are more susceptible to disease in lower temperatures.)

Breeding/Reproduction:

Water conditions for breeding:
Temp: 82-88° F (27.7-31° C)
Hardness: 3-10° dGH
Ph: 5.5-6° dGH
(Though spawning and rearing of fry can be successful in harder water, for fertilization and egg development they require a total hardness no higher than 6° dGH.)

Discus form nuclear families but will readily cross-breed with other discus. They are egg layers and will attach their eggs to plants, driftwood, rocks, and ornamentation in the aquarium. The female will lay between 200 - 400 which will hatch in about 60 hours. The fry consume a special mucus on the skin of the parents for the first five or six days. See more about breeding cichlids in: Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:

Discus have become more readily available though are still fairly expensive. You can obtain them from pet stores, breeders, and specialty dealers.

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