Discus fish (Symphysodon sp.) hail from the regions around the Amazon in South America. They are truly amazing and fascinating fish. Growing to around 9" (22cm) the original fish came in Brown (S.aequifasciata.axelrodi), green (S.a.aequifasciatus), Blue (S.a.haraldi) and Heckels (S.discus)
I don't intend to go into any great taxonomic detail as I feel there are a great many more experts on the internet who know far more than I do on this subject.
Check out my links page - there are some really good sites out there!
They first became popular in the late nineteen sixties, being imported into Europe in the mid-sixties. Of course, only wild varieties were available then and many fish were lost because little was known about their dietary needs and breeding requirements . Eventually, as more and more became known about them the quest was on to become the first to breed them.
Great breeders such as Jack Wattley (USA) and Dr Eduard Schmidt-Focke (Germany) studied these early specimens and eventually bred them. Wattley had great success with introducing the Blue Turquiosine. From these early beginnings we now have hundreds of colour varieties.
Breeders in Asia, with their vast knowledge of genetics and ideal water conditions, started to hybridise them and produce many colo ur varieties. Pigeon bloods were the first Asian mutation to appear and all Goldens and yellow fish of today are all variations of this hybrid.
Finally, welcome to the world of discus. I hope you find our pages interesting. I KNOW you will find the links interesting.
It's a great hobby keeping "The Kings of the Aquarium" - one which can, and often does, become an obsession.
ENJOY the adventure!!
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