Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus
Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Adult size
- 13 cm5 in
- Group
- 6+
- Tank length
- 120 cmabout 4 ft (47 in)
- Lifespan
- 5–10 yrs
- Temperature
- 28–31 °C82–88 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 1–10 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
Stable warm water and attentive feeding make this an advanced choice.Stable warm water and attentive feeding make this an advanced choice.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
White cloud mountain minnowCheck Discus with White cloud mountain minnowCheck Discus with White cloud mountain minnow
Chinese algae eaterCheck Chinese algae eater with DiscusCheck Chinese algae eater with Discus
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- African clawed frog
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Agassiz's cory
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Amano shrimpNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- American flagfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
AnacharisEats or uproots plants.Eats or uproots plants.
- Bandit cory
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Black kuhli loach
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Black neon tetraNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Sources
| temperature | 28–31 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 5.5–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 1–10 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Tropical Americas or Africa | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Stable warm water and attentive feeding make this an advanced choice. | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #9EAA99, #465858 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 5–10 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.012,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 120 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | cichlid | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |