A Reference Guide for Symphysodon Aequifasciatus (Discus)

This is general information on Discus, a member of the family Cichlidae. Although certainly not a complete reference guide, it will give those interested some background information on this exotic fish...

Symphysodon aequifasciatus (Discus)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes
) Order: Perciformes (perch-like fish)
Family: Cichlidae
Scientific Name: Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Other Scientific Name(s): Symphysodon aequifasciata, Symphysodon discus aequifasciata, Symphysodon aequifasciatus aequifasciatus, Symphysodon discus tarzoo, Symphysodon aequifasciata axelrodi, Symphysodon aequifasciata haraldi

Common Name: Discus

Range: South America: Brazil, Peru. Found on Amazon and Solimoes rivers of Brazil, from the lower Rio Putumayo-Ica and from Benjamin Constant to Belém. Has been introduced to the Rio Nanay in Peru.

Diet: Carnivorous. Frozen foods preferred, but will accept flake foods. Particularly like red bloodworms, but feeding "live" food is not recommended. Red worms, etc, should only be fed to discus once every other day. Beware of parasites or bacteria in the discus tank from live foods!

Temperament: Timid of strangers. Easily frightened, unless placed in a high traffic area. Can be very friendly to aquarist, oft-times eating out of the hand. If given a place to hide, they will tend to do so.

Sexing: Discus are hard to sex unless breeding. Normally, the male will be larger, and will present with longer fin extensions and a wider forehead.

Breeding: Buy either proven pairs or a group of young fish and allow them to pair themselves. The eggs are laid on a breeding cone. A clay flowerpot turned upside down works well. The fry must be kept with the parents after hatch, as they "feed" off the body slime of the parents. Special care must be taken to insure that fry do not injure the parents when getting larger. Watch for marks on the body of the pair, and if it begins to occur, the fry are ready to be moved to a community tank on their own. If left w/ the pair, serious injury can result.

Special Care: If kept specifically for breeding, a bare-bottomed tank is highly recommended.

Other Comments: To keep Discus well, water conditions are absolutely crucial. A PH of 6.3 to 6.9 is the optimal level for keeping discus. Water Temperature: Discus like it warm. They come from the Amazon basin, so water temps for these fish should be 80-84 degrees F, although some aquarists set the temperature as high as 90 degrees F.

================================================================

Alden Smith is a published author, and has been marketing on the internet for 7 years. His website, King Discus, is an active gathering place for discus breeders and lovers of discus fish. His wife Betsy is the administrator of All The Best Recipes a site rich in online recipes and cookbooks.

---

7 Good Reasons for Playing With Your Cat

Playing reinforces the bond between you and your cat.Playing with... Read More

Breeding Tetra Fish Successfully

If you are keeping tetras, chances are you are breeding... Read More

Bast, The Beloved Protector of Cats

She is the protector of cats, women and children. The... Read More

Preparing For Your New Dog - What You Need to Know Before He Comes Home

Preparing yourself and your household before, during, and after your... Read More

Which Of These Horse Catching Mistakes Do You Make?

The other day, I was invited to see my friend's... Read More

Dog Training Book ? Why Buy One? When Everything is Free Online!

I'm a dog lover who believes that every dog owners... Read More

Is your Dog Malnourished?

Americans are more concerned about health than ever before, so... Read More

How to Teach YOUR Cat to Use a Litter Box - Secrets to Litter Tray Success

Even the most dedicated cat lover has little patience with... Read More

Discover: How to Prevent Dog Bites Case

Of all the aggressive behavior in dogs dog bites is... Read More

Beds for the Pets: Sleeping in Comfort

As we love to have a comfortable place to sleep... Read More

Easy Tips for Healthy Pets

Do you want a long and healthy life for your... Read More

First Aid for Felines - How to Keep Your Car Safe from Harm

Cats are known for their curious and adventurous nature. Curiosity... Read More

Pet Adoption: The Right Choice

Pet adoption is a fabulous option if you're seeking a... Read More

Mind-Set: The Second Of 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With Your Horse

Your mind-set, approach and way of thinking (beliefs) are critical... Read More

Dog Clicker Training

Dog clicker training is so much fun for both dogs... Read More

Choosing Between Dog Training Schools and Animal Behavior Specialists

If you are having behavioral issues with your dog that... Read More

Dog Tricks: Understanding Your Dogs Capabilities Before You Teach Buddy New Tricks

The performing of dog tricks, while not a necessary part... Read More

Does Your Dog Have Fleas?

Itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch. Does that sound familiar? Hopefully... Read More

Petting a Dog is Good For Both of You

Studies have shown that regularly petting a dog brings a... Read More

Telepathic Communication With Animals

Animal Communication, or telepathy with animals, is as common an... Read More

Seeing Past Cuteness When Selecting the Best Dog Breed For You: Part 3 of 3

Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More

Saving Ginger From Being Put To Sleep ? Part 1

A family, including three dogs and a cat live happily... Read More

Breeding Clownfish

Thanks to Disney's Motion Picture 'Finding Nemo,' almost everybody is... Read More

Terrorizing Your Cat with iRobot Vacuum System

Do you have a home robotic vacuum cleaner? They are... Read More

Dog Training For Beginners

Training a dog is a fairly difficult task. Some find... Read More

Who Let The Dogs Out? Pointers For In Home Dog Training

Who let the dogs out?Remember this song which gave birth... Read More

Materials for Snake and other Reptile Cages

What kind of materials should you use when constructing a... Read More

A Dogs Tale

My name is Shadrach, and I am a dog -... Read More

Tips for Introducing Two Cats

Adding a new member to your feline family is usually... Read More

Five Cat Food Factors That Discourage Feline UTD

One of the most common causes of Feline Urinary Tract... Read More

Weaning Puppies Is Only Natural

Weaning puppies is a perfectly natural process. Mamma dogs have... Read More

Parvo in Dogs

What Is ParvoParvo is a serious viral disease that can... Read More

Why the Heck Would You Have a Pet Snake (or lizard, crocodile, monitor, frog, turtle etc)?

This is a question that has been asked of me... Read More