Starting Sympysodon
If you've been in more than a couple aquarium stores, or googled anything remotely related to keeping aquariums, you've likely seen a photo of a Discus; they're aptly named for their circular shape. Their scientific name is a bit more of a tongue twister, Symphysodon aequifasciatus. Originally from the Amazon River and some of its tributaries, Discus have been bred in captivity for decades, resulting in a fish that is not only interestingly shaped but is available in a huge array of patterns and colors, even metallics, making them totally unique among aquarium fish. As a result, they anchor some of the most gorgeous and engaging displays you'll ever see. You can see the full myriads of options available to Aquatropic retail partners here: https://www.qualitymarine.com/aquatropic/fish/discus/
Discus are in the cichlid group. They aren't as easy to keep as say, Convict Cichlids, but thousands of generations of aquaculture have resulted not only in stunning colors but a much more approachable care regimen than they once required. This being said, there are a few things you'll want to make sure you think about when planning an aquarium for Symphysodon aequifasciatus, and we're here to help.
Discus size is one of the first things to consider. Wild ones can get up to ten or so inches long. We've seen reports of them up to 14 inches long, but the ones you'll buy in your Local Fish Store will probably get to about six to eight inches. Remember that they are going to be just as tall as they are long. They are one of the few fish that prefer depth (as in bottom to top height) in a display over footprint size. You'll want a tank that is at least 75 gallons to keep a small group, and because most 90-gallon displays share that same footprint, but are deeper, they make a better choice. 110 Tall and 150 Tall are also amazing choices as your fish grow in size. Discus should always be kept in a group, so don't consider a smaller tank and attempt to keep just one, though a tank as small as 55 gallons might be appropriate when they are still small. We'd suggest a minimum of five unless you have a breeding pair, which can be kept by themselves.
Discus are shy fish and will prefer lots of cover. Your aquarium should feature lots of driftwood, rocks and plants that make them feel safe. Many aquarists will keep them in densely planted displays, and this is perfect for them. The balance to find there is one of lighting. Shy fish that love cover will also appreciate a dimly lit tank, so you need to find plants that work within those parameters, especially considering the depth of the display will limit the amount of light that gets to the bottom.
In the wild, Symphysodon aequifasciatus will be found in slower water (with all the cover and plants we just talked about). Where they live in groups (surprise, surprise). The flow in your tank should emulate this. Their home water would usually be very stained and very acidic. If you're reading this, you're likely not keeping wild fish, and if you are interested in the particulars surrounding that challenge, we'll have an article about this in the future. The aquacultured fish you have will be just fine in stained water, but don't require it. Your tank should have a pH between 6 and 7, which should be pretty easily manageable for most of you. Discus like warmer temperatures than is common for most aquarium fish, and you'll want to keep this tank at a stable temp somewhere between 80 and 88. Temperatures this high are notoriously bad at holding oxygen, and so supplementing oxygen via air stones etc. is commonplace, especially in tanks that feature a large number of fish. The hardness profile should be soft, between 1 and 6 dGH. If you need a primer on hardness and testing for it, we've just recently posted one on our site. Discus are one of the fish where your hardness (and pH) will matter for the long-term health of your fish. They are also susceptible to poor water quality so filtration should be up to the task, and water changes should be frequent (10-20% weekly or more).
The final hurdle to achieving the Discus display of your dreams is getting them enough food. They aren't aggressive eaters and need frequent feeding because another side effect of warm environments is high metabolisms for cold blooded animals. Feed your Discus at least twice a day and more would be better. Never feed them more than what they can consume because wasted food becomes poor water quality, and poor water quality is even worse at holding oxygen, and you see the cycle here. In the wild, these fish consume almost no other fish, they live on invertebrates and studies of the guts of wild fish also show some vegetation. In house, we give them a varied diet that is rooted in invertebrate protein. Gamma Bloodworms are a favorite, as are Tubifex, White Mosquito Larvae, Brine Plus Spirulina and Brine Plus Omega. We also feed them Nutramar Algae and Color Boost Shots, which round out their diet nicely and offers a wide spectrum of nutrients.
Partially because they are slow eaters, and partially because they are very peaceful fish, they should be kept with other fish of similar temperament. Small Tetras like Neons and Cardinals make great choices are a gorgeous visual contrast because of their size, activity level and coloration. They can also handle the higher temperatures that the Discus require. Corydoras can make another great choice and will bring a lot of clowning around to the substrate level of the tank. There are more options but do your homework before adding other fish to a Symphysodon tank.
These water quality parameters are especially important if you're planning on breeding these fish, which is more challenging than many fish, but still possible for the intermediate to advanced home aquarist. You'll want to research this topic specifically, but as a general overview one should start with a bigger tank so you can bring in a larger group of still-small Discus. They should all be the same size and as they grow up, you'll see natural pairs form which can be removed to their own tank. They'll lay eggs on smooth surfaces and will defend the nest and the babies. Once the fry starts free swimming, they'll follow the parents closely and feed off their slime coats, which is one of the coolest things you can see in a home aquarium! They are good parents, but they might not be so great at the first couple of broods.
Sometimes called the royalty of freshwater (or kings or queens), Discus are available in almost any color you can imagine. They take a bit more care, and a bit different care than many other fish, but are well worth the effort and time. The reward is one of the most beautiful and interesting displays possible for aquarists. If you're ready to keep them, start planning your display and ask your Local Fish Store about getting you a group of Symphysodon aequifasciatus from Aquatropic today!