Discus Fish Types: heckel discus

Discus Fish Information

Discus fish have been kept in aquariums since the 1920′s. For many, they are considered the “kings and queens” of the tank. Their unique shape and bright patterns and colors have brought the spotlight of attention to wherever they might find themselves.

Species, Appearance and Cichlids: All about Discus Fish.

Discus fish are part of a large group of fish know as cichlids. In general, cichlids are freshwater fish that come from the Cichlidae family. Approximately 1,500 or so cichlid species have been identified. That makes the Cichlidae the largest family of vertebrates. And, it is possible that there could be many more cichlid species in the world, some of which have not yet been discovered and identified.

It is quite interesting to note that cichlid sizes range from as small as one inch to as large as 36 inches. Their shapes also vary: some are laterally compressed while others are elongated and cylindrical. They are mostly found in freshwater, although some can tolerate short periods of being in brackish or saltwater.

Three Species of Discus

Discus happen to be just one of the 1500 cichlid species. Their scientific designation is the genus Symphysodon. There are three know species of discus. They are Symphysodon aequifasciatus (common discus, also identified as green discus), the Heckel discus (Symphysodon discus), and Symphysodon haraldi (the blue/brown/common discus).

Appearance of Discus

Discus are somewhat similar in appearance to the genus Pterophyllum, which includes angelfish, because they have a round, laterally compressed body shape (hence the name “discus”). But the discus does not have extended fins like you find in angelfish, and the shape of the discus is definitely more rounded.

Discus are usually quite colorful, sporting shades of red, green, brown and blue. There are also frequently patterns of stripes or spots, leading to names such as “leopard” or “snakeskin”.

Normally, you will purchase discus that are about 2.5″ in height and width, however, full grown discus can be 6″ to 8″ in height and width.

Discus Origins

Discus fish call South America home. Unless they are in an aquarium, you will not find them in any other part of the world. Specifically, they populate the Amazon River basin and its tributaries. Now, that may seem like a limited habitat, but remember that the Amazon is the longest river in the world. So there is plenty of area for discus habitation. In their original surroundings, they live in very muddy water with lots of vegetation.

Discus Difficulties – maybe, maybe not

Over the years, discus fish have gotten some bad press. This may or may not be deserved.

One camp suggests that discus fish are very difficult to keep, while another says that they are not.

Truth be told, discus fish are not any more difficult than other species if you have the knowledge of what will make them happy and healthy.

If you are thinking about adopting discus fish, make sure you know enough BEFORE you bring them home… later may be too late.

Discus Fish Types

Discus fish are part of the largest group of vertebrates in the animal world: cichlids. Cichlids are quite popular to amateur fish keeping hobbyists because of the huge varieties available. The discus is arguably the most eye-popping of the cichlid family, as you can see from the photos displayed here.

Discus are found “naturally” only in one area of the world. That is in the Amazon River and its tributaries in South America. There are basically four ‘species’ of discus, all of which begin with the scientific name “Symphysodon…” These 4 species will be shown below with scientific designations. (There has been a recent move to name another species, that being Symphysodon tarzoo).

Because the demand for discus has increased wildly, there are now fish breeders who have been selectively breeding the discus to produce literally hundreds of strains of discus fish. Using natural mutations, they have produced variations in color, patterns, and shape. A few of these are displayed below the natural selections.

Natural Discus Species
	Heckel Discus Symphysodon Discus The distinguishing feature of the Heckel discus is the darker fifth stripe. There are two varieties – blue and red. The Heckel is the most difficult to keep in a personal tank because the water conditions are somewhat different than other discus types. The name, Heckel, comes from Johann Heckel.
	Brown Discus Symphysodon Aequifasciatus Axelrodi The Brown Discus is thought to be the easiest of discus varieties to keep (and breed) in a personal tank. Prior to the popularity of man-made varieties, it was the most commonly kept discus. Body color can vary from a light brown to rusty, reddish brown. Body pattern includes vertical streaks on the body with more obvious streaks near the fins.
	Blue Discus Symphysodon Aequifasciatus Haraldi Some folks confuse this variety with a brown discus because the colors are sometimes not as vibrant. However, there are fish in this category that are more colorful and hard to mistake for the brown discus. These bluer fish have defined blue stripes on their head and body, as well as on their fins.
	Green Discus Symphysodon Aequifasciatus Aequifasciatus The Green Discus variety has a wide “variety” of colors. They can be solid green, yellow-green, olive green, or even brown (go figure). Many have green stripes on their body, while others have red body spots.
Man-made Discus Species
Man-made species are exactly that. They have resulted from the intentional efforts of fish breeders to use the attractive features of natural discus and selectively inter-breed them, creating many varieties. One of the positive aspects (aside from the beautiful colors and patterns) is that these un-natural fish are much more easily adapted to aquarium habitats. Below are a few of the more popular discus varieties available from breeders and visible from select jon boats.