Size Now:3" to 3.5"
Wow! This Discus Fish variety is very healthy and very strong. They're acclimated to our very hard and alkaline water with pH 7.8, which is very good.
No special R/O water, which is much better than most other Discus Fish varieties. Highly recommended.
Above: a wonderful large Wild Green Discus, swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.
Click here to see several pictures of Wild Green Discus.
Origin: We imported these Wild Green Discus from the Rainforests in the Amazon in South America.
Maximum Size: In aquariums Discus can grow to be about 6" long and rarely even larger.
Behaviors: Discus are usually not aggressive fish, but from time to time the can be territorial.
Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include, other Discus species, a few Corydoras Catfish, some small Tetras like Neons and Cardinals, and perhaps a small Plecostomus Catfish.
Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.
Temperature: Discus live best from about 75 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.
Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.
Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is best to feed to Discus.
Smaller sized pellets when young, and larger sized pellets when bigger, is the ideal food for these fish.
Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.
Water Conditions: These fish prefer a pH of about 6 to 7 with low hardness.
Most water in us U.S. has a higher pH and is harder but these fish can adapt, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or the hardness.
But it may be beneficial to dilute their water with RO water.
Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.
Aquarium Size: Discus will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 60-gallons of water, but of course bigger is better.
Decor: Discus do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.
Click here for more about aquarium gravel.
Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, and also Discus seem to love live plants and are healthier in planted aquariums.
Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.
Most 60-gallon aquariums have room along the back for two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of a minimal Discus set up.
Better is a 80, 100, 120, 150, or 200-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.
Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.
The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.
Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.
Life Span: Discus can live for several years.
Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they may live for many years.
Gender: It's difficult to tell males from females, when they are small, but when mature, the male usually has more vibrant colors while a mature female is often plumper.
Breeding: Discus females will lay eggs on a flat surface that they previously cleaned off.
The male will fertilize them, and then both the male and female guard and tend to their eggs.
When the eggs hatch, the baby Discus feed off the mucus on their parent's sides.
The water will need to be warmer, soft and slightly acidic for best breeding parameters.
Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.
Popularity: These fish have been very popular in the aquarium hobby.
Names: The scientific name for Discus is Symphysodon aequifasciatus.
Variations: There are many color variations of Discus in the aquarium hobby.
We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.
