Discus (common)

Care at a glance

The discus is called the king of the Amazon aquarium for a reason: majestic, colourful and with a social group life you rarely see in other fish. But the crown has its price, because this is a species for keepers whose basics are in order.

Discus demand impeccable, warm, soft water, and that means discipline: generous, regular water changes and a tank that has been running stably for months. Keep them in a group and pick tankmates that tolerate the same heat. Those who put in the effort get the most beautiful community tank imaginable in return.

Good to know

• Needs a mature, stable tank

Best not combined with

• Tiger barbPuntigrus tetrazona
• Convict cichlidAmatitlania nigrofasciata
• Chinese algae eaterGyrinocheilus aymonieri
• Green terrorAndinoacara rivulatus
• Jack Dempsey cichlidRocio octofasciata
• FlowerhornCichlasoma × hybride
• Texas cichlidHerichthys cyanoguttatus
• Midas cichlid (red devil)Amphilophus citrinellus
• Cherry shrimpNeocaridina davidi

Related species

• AngelfishPterophyllum scalare
• Heckel discusSymphysodon discus
• Kuhli loachPangio kuhlii
• Ram cichlidMikrogeophagus ramirezi
• Flag cichlidMesonauta festivus
• Zebra otocinclusOtocinclus cocama