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.
maid service near Mundelein ..For most cat owners, training their cat to use the... Read More
Let's say you've made up your mind on the breed... Read More
A breed of dog called a Boxer is very family-oriented... Read More
Many parents know that the best way for children to... Read More
With all the companionship and love that our dogs give... Read More
Mistake #1:"Here, Kitty Kitty..."Unless they have been educated, new horse... Read More
Training your dog to "sit" is probably the first thing... Read More
Any person, whether a minor or adult, having been bitten... Read More
Americans are more concerned about health than ever before, so... Read More
Parasites are organisms that survive by feeding off of other... Read More
Is your home safe for your Furr Kids? It might... Read More
The city I live in just increased its fees for... Read More
This is an old saying that many of us have... Read More
When you take into account that there are over 68,000,000... Read More
Guide for training a dogSo you can use a guide... Read More
Do you really know all there is to know about... Read More
If you're reading this I think it's safe to assume... Read More
You love your dog. You would do anything for your... Read More
Do you want a long and healthy life for your... Read More
Do I Need A Quarantine Tank?Ah, yes, the often dismissed... Read More
So, you've got yourself a pregnant cat.Was it a stray... Read More
How to Deal With Anxiety in Your DogAnxiety in dogs... Read More
All dogs bark, it's their way to communicate a message.... Read More
My son and I have a cat. Her name is... Read More
All positive commands should be spoken sharply and distinctly during... Read More
high-end home cleaning Bannockburn ..You've seen them in movies and on TV shows, and... Read More
A poorly trained dog can embarrass its owner and offend... Read More
The shutting and opening door trick can be taught to... Read More
The American Humane Society estimated that last year alone; fifteen... Read More
Do you make a lot of trips to the vet's... Read More
Some people say they are exclusively "cat people," meaning they... Read More
Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More
My son and I have a cat. Her name is... Read More
My dad was an avid animal lover. We grew up... Read More
Taurine, a water-soluble amino acid, has recently become the topic... Read More
BackgroundSilkworms are the larva of a moth (Bombyx mori) native... Read More
Keeping fish as pets takes more than just feeding them... Read More
As many of you know America is serious about our... Read More
No one knows your dog better than you, and as... Read More
When goldfish swim up to the glass of the tank,... Read More
Grocery Stores could use some larger Dog Food Isles. Not... Read More
For those pet owners who do not know what a... Read More
Your local grocery store is chock full of food and... Read More
Are you concerned when your dog or cat eats grass,... Read More
If you're contemplating the idea of starting a home-based business... Read More
Among the most well known cat lover gifts are photo... Read More
Dog careAccepting responsibility of your new pet friend is truly... Read More
Now that you're dog has shown you so much love... Read More
None of us likes to be bitten by mosquitoes and... Read More
Dog bite injuries are alarmingly the most common condition that... Read More
Pet |