The Discus fish is a large cichlid from the Amazon River, its tributaries and flood plains, in South America. Discus and the many varieties were first described in 1840 by Dr. Heckel as Symphysodon discus, this name is now used for the Heckel discus variety. The three original color varieties were green, brown and blue, although now a much wider choice are available.

The discus is a social fish and forms large groups in their native waters, and has a very advanced social behaviour; they are one of the few real schooling cichlids. Remember when starting to care for discus; always purchase a set of them. They need the social interaction to nurture their character to its greatest potential.

Currently , it is not easy to find the original color variants in pet shops, only the Heckel is sometimes imported. Most of the discus fish you see today are captive bred color varieties. Some of the discus have lost their stripes and therefore their natural ability to communicate in the school. One of the advantages of the captive bred discus is that they are now much simpler to maintain than the imported ones.

It is getting increasingly less difficult to keep Discus Aquarium Fish with the new technology improving water quality and Discus Fish health, which could be the cause of the rise in demand. The number of new dealers and breeders is growing speedily and even small aquatic shops are stocking a range of Discus. They are beautiful, but still remain a challenge to keep and breed, with the breeding being very rewarding and will even cover the costs for the hobby. Most people that keep Discus will sooner or later want to breed them as it is a great experience, though breeding Discus Fish can be challenging

Discus Fish are very timid fish and often hide when they are not confident so keep the aquarium away from loud and busy areas mostly near doorways and passageways . The only other element to think about is the height of the tank, highest possible as Discus are distracted by movement above and this may cause them undue tension .

Discus should be given a varied , vitamin and protein rich diet, therefore it is important to use a few different types of food: Fish flakes provide a complete diet, though Discus prefer to take food deeper in the water, even at the bottom, so soak and squeeze out the flakes before introducing to the tank. Frozen brine shrimp, defrosted and rinsed, make an excellent supplement and the carotene helps enhance colors. Frozen irradiated bloodworms are a good daily addition, even though the flakes contain them already. Do not over feed, Discus fish are grazers, and will eat bit by bit , so allow them time.

Although not easy to keep, these beautiful fish are a very rewarding hobby, if you have the time and patience for them: The exquisite colors are a wonderful addition to any tank or aquarium.