Heckel discus

Care at a glance

The Heckel discus is the wild form from the Rio Negro region, recognisable by the broad dark fifth bar running down the middle of the body. They are still largely wild-caught and are the most demanding discus you can buy.

It asks for very soft, acidic and warm water that is above all stable, plus a quiet spot without busy tankmates. Keep it in a group so the pecking order spreads out, feed a varied diet of frozen foods and keep the tank spotless; this is not a beginner's fish.

Good to know

• Needs a mature, stable tank
• Hard to wean onto dry food

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

• Discus (common)Symphysodon aequifasciatus
• Ram cichlidMikrogeophagus ramirezi
• AngelfishPterophyllum scalare
• Flag cichlidMesonauta festivus
• KribensisPelvicachromis pulcher
• Kuhli loachPangio kuhlii