Tem uma foto? Identifique peixes instantaneamente com o app Fishby.
Abrir o appDescrição
Symphysodon, commonly known as Discus, are cichlids native to the Amazon River basin in South America. Renowned for their distinctive disc-shaped bodies and vibrant coloration, they are among the most popular and challenging freshwater aquarium fish. There are currently three recognized species: Symphysodon aequifasciatus, Symphysodon discus, and Symphysodon tarzoo, with numerous wild variants and cultivated strains.
Características físicas
- Formato do corpo
- compressed
- Coloração
- Highly variable, ranging from shades of brown, green, and blue to vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges. Many species and strains exhibit intricate patterns of stripes, spots, and marbling. Wild forms often have vertical stress bars.
- Tipo de escama
- ctenoid
- Posição da boca
- terminal
- Características distintivas
- Laterally compressed, disc-shaped body, Small mouth, Large eyes, Elongated dorsal and anal fins that extend almost to the caudal fin, Often exhibit nine vertical stress bars, which can appear or disappear depending on mood and health
- Nadadeira dorsal
- Long and continuous, extending from just behind the head to the caudal peduncle, with 9-14 spines and 27-35 soft rays.
- Nadadeira caudal
- Fan-shaped, rounded to slightly truncate, with 14-16 rays.
- Nadadeira peitoral
- Small and rounded, positioned just behind the operculum.
- Nadadeiras características
- Pelvic fins are elongated and filamentous, often used for tactile exploration and communication.
Dicas de identificação
Body Shape
Look for the characteristic highly compressed, circular to oval body shape, which gives them their 'disc' name.
Coloration and Patterns
Observe the intricate and often vibrant color patterns, including vertical stress bars, spots, and wavy lines, which vary significantly between species and strains.
Fin Structure
Note the long, flowing dorsal and anal fins that almost meet the caudal fin, and the elongated, filamentous pelvic fins.
Eye Size
Discus have relatively large eyes compared to their head size.
Habitat
- Tipo de água
- freshwater
- Profundidade
- Typically found in shallow, slow-moving waters, often in flooded forests and tributaries, at depths of 1-4 meters.
- Ambiente
- Blackwater and clearwater rivers, lakes, and flooded forest areas of the Amazon basin. They prefer areas with dense vegetation, submerged roots, and leaf litter, which provide shelter and foraging grounds. Water is typically soft, acidic, and warm.
- Distribuição geográfica
- Amazon River basin in South America, including parts of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Informações sobre aquário
- Nível de cuidado: advanced
- Temperamento: peaceful
- Alimentação: omnivore
- Tamanho mínimo do aquário: 75 gallons (280 liters) for a group of 5-6 adults
- Temperatura: 27-31°C (80-88°F)
- Nível de pH: 5.5-7.0 (ideally 6.0-6.5)
- Dureza da água: 1-4 dGH (soft water)
- Compatibilidade: Best kept in species-specific tanks or with very peaceful, similarly sized, soft-water loving fish like cardinal tetras, rummy-nose tetras, or dwarf cichlids. Avoid aggressive or fin-nipping species.
- Requisitos especiais: Discus require pristine water quality, stable parameters, and a well-established, mature aquarium. They thrive in planted tanks with subdued lighting and plenty of hiding spots. A varied diet of high-quality flakes, pellets, frozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp), and live foods is essential. They are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of at least 5-6 individuals to reduce stress and encourage natural behavior.
Informações no ambiente natural
- Estado de conservação: least concern
- Sazonalidade: Breeding typically occurs during the rainy season when water levels rise and food is abundant, though they can breed year-round in stable conditions.
- Preço de mercado: Highly variable, from $30 to $300+ per fish depending on species, strain, size, and coloration.
- Importância comercial: high
- Sabor: Not typically consumed due to their value as ornamental fish.
- Textura: Not typically consumed due to their value as ornamental fish.
- Valor nutricional: Not typically consumed due to their value as ornamental fish.
Fatos principais
Parental Carebehavior
Discus exhibit remarkable parental care, with both parents guarding eggs and fry. The fry feed on a nutritious mucous secretion produced by the parents' skin, a unique behavior among fish.
Water Quality Demandsinteresting
Discus are highly sensitive to water quality and require very soft, acidic, and warm water with minimal fluctuations in parameters, making them challenging for novice aquarists.
Color Variationamazing
Through selective breeding, aquarists have developed an astonishing array of color strains and patterns, far exceeding the natural variations found in the wild.
Social Structurebehavior
Discus are schooling fish and thrive in groups. Keeping them individually or in small numbers can lead to stress, aggression, and poor health.
Informações de segurança
Seguro- Nível de segurança: safe
- Venenoso: Não
- Comestibilidade: not recommended
- Observações de manuseio: Discus are delicate fish and should be handled with extreme care to avoid stress and injury. Use a soft net or a container to transfer them. Avoid prolonged exposure to air. Their spines are not venomous but can cause minor punctures if handled carelessly.
Espécies similares
Angelfish
Pterophyllum spp.
While also cichlids with compressed bodies, Angelfish have a more triangular body shape, much longer and more pointed dorsal and anal fins, and typically lack the vibrant, intricate patterns of Discus. Their mouths are also more upturned.
Uaru Cichlid
Uaru amphiacanthoides
Uaru cichlids share a somewhat disc-like body shape but are generally larger, have a more elongated snout, and typically exhibit a more subdued coloration with a prominent black blotch on their flanks. Their fins are not as elongated as Discus.
Classificação científica
- Reino
- Animalia
- Filo
- Chordata
- Classe
- Actinopterygii
- Ordem
- Cichliformes
- Família
- Cichlidae
- Gênero
- Symphysodon
- Espécie
- S. aequifasciatus, S. discus, S. tarzoo
Explore Discus
Identifique peixes em qualquer lugar
Grátis para iOS, Android e web. Identificação por foto, detalhes completos das espécies e muito mais.