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Monday, 06 September 2010
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Discus  (Chinese name: 七彩神仙鱼)

 
Discus
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
There are two recognized species of discus: the red discus or common discus, and the blue discus. The two species are very similar and may interbreed, producing a number of hybrid strains.

The first special characteristic of the discus is its flattened body shape. It is compressed from the sides to a dish or discus shape. The height and length of the grown fish are both about 20 - 25 cm (8 - 10 in).

The second special characteristic of the discus is its care for the larvae. Like all cichlids, the parents care for the young but the discus has a unique way of doing so: the parents produce a secretion through their skin, off which the larvae live during their first few days. The young can be seen grazing off their parents.

Discus prefer water temperature at 78 - 88 °F (26 - 31 °C). pH and hardness don't appear to matter (within reason) for general discus keeping. In order to spawn discus, low hardness and low to neutral (6 - 7) pH may be necessary for the eggs to be fertilized.

Discus do not tolerate pollution. In terms of tank conditions, this is really the big 'secret' to keeping discus healthy.

Discus are often extremely cautious about adapting to new foods; it's not unusual for them to go for weeks without food before accepting a new type of food. Thus whenever you buy discus, always ask what type of food the fish is eating.

 
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