Discus

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

The king of the aquarium. Discus demand warm, soft, pristine water – and reward you with unmatched colour.

A peaceful freshwater fish that grows to 18 cm, lives in the middle of the tank in groups of 3 or more and needs 27–31 °C, pH 5.5–7.2 and an aquarium of at least 200 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

27–31 °C (81–88 °F)

pH

5.5–7.2

Adult size

18 cm (7.1 in)

Aquarium

200 L or bigger (53 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

3 or more

Swims

Middle

Diet

Carnivore

Wild home

Amazon floodplain lakes

Good to know

• Delicate. Sensitive to poor water quality.
• Slow eater. Out-competed by fast fish at feeding time.

Tank mates

Good company: Angelfish, Cardinal Tetra, Clown Loach, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, German Blue Ram, Kuhli Loach, Ornate Bichir, Pearl Gourami, Rummy-Nose Tetra, Zebra Pleco.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Motoro Stingray.

Attacked by: Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Harassed by: Black Skirt Tetra, Pea Puffer, Serpae Tetra, Tiger Barb.

Eats the newborn fry of: Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Chili Rasbora, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Congo Tetra, Corydoras, Crystal Red Shrimp, Dwarf Gourami and 20 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Black Ghost Knifefish, Comet Goldfish, Electric Blue Acara, Fancy Goldfish, Firemouth Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Kribensis and 7 more.

Colours and breeding

• Blue Diamond rare
• Pigeon Blood rare
• Red Turquoise rare
• Leopard epic
• Marlboro Red epic
• Wild Heckel epic
• Snakeskin legendary

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.5 cm long and take after one of the parents.

Some pairs give a colour neither parent has:

• Blue Diamond × Pigeon Blood can give Red Turquoise
• Red Turquoise × Pigeon Blood can give Leopard
• Leopard × Marlboro Red can give Snakeskin

Now and then a rare mutation shows up: Wild Heckel, Snakeskin.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.