This is general information on Discus, a member of the family Cichlidae. Although certainly not a complete reference guide, it will give those interested some background information on this exotic fish...
Symphysodon aequifasciatus (Discus)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes
) Order: Perciformes (perch-like fish)
Family: Cichlidae
Scientific Name: Symphysodon aequifasciatus
Other Scientific Name(s): Symphysodon aequifasciata, Symphysodon discus aequifasciata, Symphysodon aequifasciatus aequifasciatus, Symphysodon discus tarzoo, Symphysodon aequifasciata axelrodi, Symphysodon aequifasciata haraldi
Common Name: Discus
Range: South America: Brazil, Peru. Found on Amazon and Solimoes rivers of Brazil, from the lower Rio Putumayo-Ica and from Benjamin Constant to Bel?m. Has been introduced to the Rio Nanay in Peru.
Diet: Carnivorous. Frozen foods preferred, but will accept flake foods. Particularly like red bloodworms, but feeding "live" food is not recommended. Red worms, etc, should only be fed to discus once every other day. Beware of parasites or bacteria in the discus tank from live foods!
Temperament: Timid of strangers. Easily frightened, unless placed in a high traffic area. Can be very friendly to aquarist, oft-times eating out of the hand. If given a place to hide, they will tend to do so.
Sexing: Discus are hard to sex unless breeding. Normally, the male will be larger, and will present with longer fin extensions and a wider forehead.
Breeding: Buy either proven pairs or a group of young fish and allow them to pair themselves. The eggs are laid on a breeding cone. A clay flowerpot turned upside down works well. The fry must be kept with the parents after hatch, as they "feed" off the body slime of the parents. Special care must be taken to insure that fry do not injure the parents when getting larger. Watch for marks on the body of the pair, and if it begins to occur, the fry are ready to be moved to a community tank on their own. If left w/ the pair, serious injury can result.
Special Care: If kept specifically for breeding, a bare-bottomed tank is highly recommended.
Other Comments: To keep Discus well, water conditions are absolutely crucial. A PH of 6.3 to 6.9 is the optimal level for keeping discus. Water Temperature: Discus like it warm. They come from the Amazon basin, so water temps for these fish should be 80-84 degrees F, although some aquarists set the temperature as high as 90 degrees F.
================================================================
Alden Smith is a published author, and has been marketing on the internet for 7 years. His website, king discus, is an active gathering place for discus breeders and lovers of discus fish. His wife Betsy is the administrator of king discus a site rich in online recipes and cookbooks.
Alexis limo rentals ..Location of your aquariumSo, you bought your very first fish... Read More
My dad was an avid animal lover. We grew up... Read More
There are many ways in which you can prepare for,... Read More
Ringworm is an annoying, highly contagious fungal disorder that is... Read More
Why is it that cats get no respect? Are they... Read More
Itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch. Does that sound familiar? Hopefully... Read More
Toy dog breeds include greyhounds, terriers, pinschers, pugs, chihuahuas, pekingese,... Read More
Is there anything more cute and cuddly than tiny little... Read More
You may wish to consider a chinchilla as a possible... Read More
Lemon TetraGlassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear... Read More
From the first day of life on a leash, most... Read More
A new puppy is a joyous addition to any home.... Read More
We all know how special interest groups can blow things... Read More
While your friends and family are amazed that you're raising... Read More
Many dog owners are bewildered when they hear their dog... Read More
Dogs need mental and physical stimulation. They're also very inquisitive... Read More
As with every training tool used to modify a behavior... Read More
The holidays are a wonderful time of year, full of... Read More
Pets are many things in many ways but they are... Read More
Last summer, we added a new pet to our family... Read More
There is a dangerous problem that horse owners should be... Read More
Part1: There is Actually a "Wrong" Way to Crate TrainCrate... Read More
Horse training can be a relatively mysterious subject to people... Read More
Who let the dogs out?Remember this song which gave birth... Read More
The most important thing to remember in analyzing the behavior... Read More
car service from Midway Alsip ..Here are 5 things to do to put the odds... Read More
We've recently moved into a new apartment complex that really... Read More
Remember when you first met your dog? He was fresh... Read More
Our dogs are now, more than ever, a very important... Read More
The 4th Of 6 Keys To Building A Life Long... Read More
'Help, my cat is pregnant and I don't know what... Read More
What makes something news? The fact that you take good... Read More
Get to know your beloved dog better with these insightful... Read More
Your dog seems to be driving you up the wall... Read More
The other day, I was invited to see my friend's... Read More
Are cats and children a good mix?So, you had a... Read More
The wearing of charms dates back to 400 or 500... Read More
Betta fish, also called Siamese fighting fish are one of... Read More
Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits... Read More
Unfortunately, accidents can - and DO happen, so it's always... Read More
Let's say you've made up your mind on the breed... Read More
Vitamins Can Increase Your Dog's Life Span!There is evidence to... Read More
As dogs grow older, their senses become less sharp and... Read More
What's the best food for your Goldfish?Goldfish need food that... Read More
Kittens communicate in a very distinct way. Did you know... Read More
The real apistogramma's come from southern America, they all have... Read More
Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to... Read More
If you're like me, then you don't really have the... Read More
Bringing home a new puppy, ushers in a wave of... Read More
Cockatiels are one of the most lovable pets in the... Read More
Pet |