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Red Leopard. Pidgeon Blood. Cobalt Blue.

With names like this, you know that the Discus has to be an extraordinary fish in the aquarist's world. Careful breeding and crossing of wild and domestic fish, have created a myriad of colours, that range from a pale yellow white, to a vibrant blue or even red in colour. Some have complex patterns of striations that vary from gold to deep red. As their name suggests, they are discus shaped, and often grow to be the size of your palm or bigger.

The Discus, hails from the tributaries of the Amazon River in South America. How unlikely, that what was once referred to as The Pompadour fish, would be found, in what amounts to a dank bog or blackwater. Despite the appearances of it's natural home, the Discus is not an easy fish to keep.

The climate demands of this fish, are quite different than your standard guppy, goldfish, or angel. The temperature the Discus feels most at home in, ranges between 80 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit. That's a good ten degrees more than the usual tropical fish temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit.

In addition to the high level of warmth required, the Discus prefers soft water, which means, the water is free of any minerals or hardening properties like calcium. Soft water can usually be achieved by making use of a reverse osmosis filter, the ideal being between 0-3 dH.

The pH quality of the water is also toward the acidic range, ideal pH being between 6.0 and 6.8. Ideally, bog roots to decorate the tank and peat should be used in the filter. The water will take on a tea like tinge, which the discus adores.

The Discus is also a difficult fish to breed in captivity. Sexing the fish is not foolproof. To find a pair, careful observation is required. A breeding pair often swim side by side and remain close. They also conduct mating rituals, such as facing each other and giving off a body shiver' or swimming past each other, as if showing off. Males and females are equally vibrant, and sexing can only be guaranteed, if the ovipostor (female fish sex organ) or the male's are seen. The oviposter is rounded and much thicker in appearance than the male's organ.

Once the climate requirements are achieved and a breeding pair, located, one is well on their way to breeding discus fish.

A breeding tank, is void of substrate (gravel) and is kept immaculate. Inside an inverted flower pot with a silicon plug in the drainage hole, or a clay breeding cone are used for the fish to lay eggs upon. Both male and female will slink

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