Discus Cichlid.

Scientific Name: Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Common Name: Discus

Family: Cichlidae

Species Type: South American Cichlid

Maximum Size: 8" Most in a aquarium will reach between 6-8" in length and there
height can be equivalent to there length.

Originates from: South America in the Rio Solim

Min Tank size: 55 gallons

Water region: All over.

Temperature Range: 84F - 86F.

pH: 6

Water Hardness: Very soft

Diet: Carnivores. Discus will eat most foods offered to them , although they have a
special fondness for worms like blackworms and bloodworms.

Temperament: Peaceful

Life Span: If kept healthy 10-15 years.

Sexing: Sexing discus is very hard and the only way you can be 100% sure is when you have a successful spawning.

Breeding: Discus are egg layers. They often choose a vertical surface to lay their eggs on. The best thing for discus to breed on is a spawning cone or inverted flowerpots. These are used by many breeders with great success. The parents will mouth the eggs to keep them clean and free of debris.

Description: There are so many color variables Discus come in such as a beautiful pastel browns, reds and greens to lively neon blues, orange and yellow. Discus can be colored in a pair, one solid, or an assortment of different colors. The body shape is very tall and rounded. Discus can also be found with high-fins and high-bodies.

Requirements: Discus, in nature, come from very soft and nutrient-poor waters. These waters have a low pH value and is very low in nutrient. Many of the waters they come from are quite murky thus blocking sunlight from passing through the water and ward off any plant growth. Discus are found in the tangles roots of submerged trees. The ultimate Discus aquarium has soft, very clean water with a pH around 6.5 and low lighting. The general rules of thumb for keeping adult Discus, there should be around 10 gallons of water per fish. With the discus being bred in captivity for so long, most Discus available are highly adaptable to different aquarium conditions if they are properly acclimated. Once the acclimation is complete it is most important to keep the water clean and its chemistry constant. For growing Discus, water changes should be done at least every other day, as much as 50%. For grown Discus in a display aquarium, weekly changes of 25% will usually meet the requirements. Fry should be fed 6-8 times per day with a high-quality variety of foods. For growing juveniles they should be fed 3-5 times per day, and adults at least twice per day. Special care should be taken when feeding live foods, as they can give refuge to parasites, which may infest your fish.

Behavior: Discus can be rather shy and timid. If they are constantly hiding, this can be an indicator of poor water quality. With clean water, Discus can become very tame and trusting and will often take food directly from your hand. They should not be housed with other fish that will harass or intimidate them, such as African Cichlids or any other large rowdy species. A single-species tank is ideal for Discus, though they can also be housed with smaller Tetras or Dwarf Cichlids. I keep mine with Tetras, Angels, guppies, plecos, hatches and a pearl earth eater.