Discus are among the most beautiful and most commonly kept species of cichlids. They belong to the genus Symphysodon, which essentially contains three species: the Heckel Discus (S. discus), the Green Discus (S. aequifasciatus) , and the Blue and Brown Discus (S.
What is the most popular discus fish?
Red color discus are one of the most interesting looking type of discus. They have a deep red body with transparent fins and tail towards the ends. The face is a light yellow mixed with white and they show a dark band vertically over their eyes.
Can different types of discus breed?
All colors and types of discus will interbreed and produce fertile fry. Some types like
pigeon blood
and Blue Diamonds are easily recognized.
How many species of discus are there?
Wild Discus Species. There are three species of discus in nature. They make up the entirety of the genus Symphysodon.
What is pigeon discus?
Pigeon Blood Discus are a selectively bred or man-made species of Discus that typically have a creamy yellowish to orange base color, highlighted by bright red eyes and trimmed off in
black stripes
and spots The tails of Pigeon Blood Discus are almost always black.
How many discus should be kept together?
3-5 discus should be doable in a
55gal aquarium
as long as
water changes
are kept up with. A general rule you can follow is one discus per 10 gallons.
Is discus fish hard to keep?
Discus fish are one of the most beautiful freshwater fish in the hobby, known for their spectacular colors and large, circular shape. However, they’re notorious for being extremely difficult to keep , with Internet forums often recommending strict practices like 100% water changes every day.
Can you mix different discus?
I have kept the wild discus and the hybrids together and have not seen any erratic behavior between the two. In my hatchery they are kept in the same systems together. If anyone tells you not to mix any other discus with theirs, it could be a marketing ploy for you to only purchase their discus.
Can you mix discus fish?
Discus are generally calm, peaceful fish, but as cichlids, they can be aggressive toward one another, especially when attempting to pair off and spawn. Shy or submissive fish should be removed if they are unable to compete. Most serious hobbyists do not mix their discus with too many other species.
Is breeding discus profitable?
Since average spawns will typically yield a few dozen fish, a
successful breeding pair
will yield a few thousand dollars in sales every few months , this is why true proven breeding pairs are so expensive. A hobbyist with a few breeding pairs can easily earn up to $10,000 every two months breeding discus.
How do you tell if a discus is a boy or girl?
Although male discus fish have prominent physical characteristics, the female usually has the most striking coloration in solid-colored fish, while the male’s colors appear more faded In patterned species, the male has more intricate patterns than the female. Fin shape is another clue.
At what size do discus start breeding?
Selecting a Breeding Pair Because discus fish are difficult to sex while they are still young, you may need to wait until the fish mature and they may naturally pair off on their own. Female discus fish reach sexual maturity at 12 months of age, while males take a few months more to mature.
Can parrot fish live with discus?
It is not recommended to keep Discus and Parrot Cichlids together , as they have different requirements. Parrot Cichlids are too aggressive to be kept with the relatively shy Discus. Parrot Cichlids can also potentially destroy hiding spots meant for the Discus. They both also need different water conditions.
Can discus fish live alone?
Discus cichlids don’t like to be alone , but each fish needs at least ten gallons of water to survive; therefore, a pair of adult discus fish need, at minimum, a 20-gallon tank. A pair of young discus fish can thrive in a 15-gallon tank, but they will outgrow it as they mature.
What fish can you have with discus?
- German Ram (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) .
- Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii) .
- Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus) .
- Sterbai Cory (Corydoras Sterbai) .
- Tetras (Characidae) .
- Apistogramma (genus) .
- Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus oblongus) .
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail / MTS (Melanoides tuberculata)
How big can discus get?
Discus typically reach up to 12.3–15.2 cm (4.8–6.0 in) in length, but captives have been claimed to reach 23 cm (9 in) Adults generally weigh 150–250 g (5.3–8.8 oz). No clear sexual dimorphism is seen for this fish, but males may reach a larger size than females.
What color will my discus be?
As they grow and begin to take shape, all colors of Discus fry 1 to 1-1/2 inch begin to take on a solid burnt reddish/orange color. At a size of 2 to 3-1/2 inch, they begin to show about 10% of their inherited color.
How long does it take for discus to grow full size?
The growth rate from 2 ½ inch to 4 inch keeping the fish in a small aquarium will only take four more months. If I were to raise the same fish in 100 gallon tanks there growth rate would be cut in half, and it would take eight months to a year to get up to the same 4 inch size.
How many times do discus lay eggs?
When and if the discus spawn in this stage, they will lay eggs every week for up to fifteen weeks. This cycle usually occurs twice a year and can be rigged with careful adjustment of feeding, temperature and water conditions.
How many babies do discus have?
The females will position their breeding tube against the surface and lay up to 400 tiny eggs Larger females will lay more eggs, and smaller females will lay less.
Why do my discus chasing each other?
Fish aggression, which can be represented by chasing, body slapping and picking, is a sign of health Sick discus fish never display aggression. A healthy fish may intimidate a sick fish, but two sick fish will not chase, nip and threaten one another with body slapping. Sick fish are far too busy being inconspicuous.
How do you encourage discus to breed?
You can feed live foods to help stimulate spawning. Discus fish love to eat white worms and black worms. You can also try live adult brine shrimp, glass worms, mosquito larvae, large daphnia and small red wigglers. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder.
How old are discus fish?
Discus fish, kept in good conditions, can live for up to 15 years and reach sizes of up to 20 centimetres / 8” in diameter! They are fully grown at the age of approximately 2 to 2.5 years!.
Is discus a community fish?
Although they are community fish and safe with small fish, in a community tank, keeping Discus only works if the conditions the Discus need are met first and foremost.
Why do discus have red eyes?
Discus must have a red eye to be considered a worthy specimen In the main, wild Discus do have bright red eyes, so some fishkeepers consider a red eye a must characteristic. However, most Discus available today are domestically-bred mutations and the eye can be yellow/red/albino and so on.
Why do discus get black spots?
These freckles are nothing more than a genetic mutation of the once black bars which Discus fish can display It is not at all a disease or fungus which needs medication to treat, just purely a skin pigmentation.
Is a checkerboard discus pigeon blood?
The Red Pigeon Blood Discus, sometimes called the Checkerboard Discus , had a distinct red checkerboard pattern on a cream body. The pigeon blood variation was developed in Thailand in the 1980s and is slightly harder to create than the turquoise varieties hence the pigeon bloods are a bit more expensive.
Do discus really need daily water changes?
Although all tropical fish aquariums require regular water changes, discus aquariums in specific need frequent water changes For this reason, you should change your discus’ aquarium water at least once a week. Some people change 20 to 25% of their aquarium’s water two to three times a week.
How many discus are in a 200 Litre tank?
Stocking your aquarium The fact of the matter is that Discus, especially smaller ones do better and feel more secure in big groups. In Europe, the German Veterinary Association for Animal Protection recommends a maximum of 45 x 8cm Discus per 180 litres , or 12 x 15cm per 180 litres.
Can you mix discus with cichlids?
These dwarf cichlids are amazingly colored and generally peaceful enough to combine well with your discus Although breeding rams can occasionally display some overly assertive behavior, most discus keepers report no issues in combining the two.
What is stunted discus?
Cause of Stunted Growth The quickest reason to point out is the feeding program of the fish. Feeding these tropical water beauties haphazardly, whether lacking or plentiful in quantity and size may lead to stunted discus. Furthermore, giving them the wrong kind of food may contribute to the problem as well.
What are the rules of discus?
Discus throwers are not allowed to touch the top of rim of the throwing circle, but can touch the inside edges of it The athletes are also prohibited to touch the ground beyond the circle. And if the athlete crosses the circle before the disc lands on the ground then it is considered a foul throw.
Can you keep 3 discus?
STEP ONE: – SIZE IS EVERYTHING The first thing to consider before you even buy the tank for your new discus is how big it needs to be. You will need to allow ten gallons for each discus. Also discus being a shoaling species a minimum number of at least six discus will need to be kept.
Do discus produce lots of waste?
There is a lot of sludge and organic waste in a discus tank , thanks to the increased feeding.
How many discus Can I put in a 100 gallon tank?
If one cleans their tank and gravel once every 5 to 7 days on a regular basis, completes a 25% water change, and does not overfeed, you can stock a 100-gallon tank with 35 to 40 adult Discus fish. This stock level will result in your Discus fish growing evenly.
How many Litres do discus need?
For adult STENDKER discus fish, we recommend providing approx. 30 litres of water per adult discus fish Many discus lovers only want the best for their animals and believe that you should also put a group of small discus fish in an e.g. 450 litre aquarium.
Citations
https://www.discusmadness.com/product-category/discus-strains/