The Discus

DISCUS - SYMPHYSODON AEQUIFASCIATUS

NATURAL HABITAT: South America, Amazon river.

SIZE: The Discus can grow up to about 6" - 6.5".

COLOUR: The Discus has a blue shade across the forehead and a purple - red body.

SHAPE: The Discus is in the shape of a disc.(That is how it got its name) Its body is the shape of a circle and it is skinny - like the Angelfish.

TEMPERAMENT: The Discus is hard to keep in a community tank. I have heard that it likes to move the rocks around but havent seen it do it.

CARE: Feed the Discus cut up earth worms and other live foods. You can also feed them flakes and tubifex worms.

WATER CONDITIONS: Use a pH of 6.5 - 7.5 and a temperature of about 30 - 32*C. (86 - 90*F)

GENDER: There is no known way to tell.

BREEDING: Breeding is VERY hard. Eggs are layed on clean rocks, and NEVER remove the parents as they care for the young and protect them from fungus and desease.

COMMENTS ON THE DISCUS: The Discus is one of the most popular fishes around. It is very rarely bred so they are not easy to find.