ExploreFish

Discus

Discus fish are round and brightly colored, making them look like living jewels in the water. They like to swim together and can be quite friendly.

Appearance

The Discus has a distinctive, highly compressed, disc-shaped body, almost perfectly round. They boast vibrant and intricate patterns of blues, reds, greens, and yellows, often with vertical dark stripes. Their long dorsal and anal fins extend along most of their body.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumMolluscaClassActinopterygiiOrderCichliformesFamilyCichlidaeGenusSymphysodon

Discus

Interesting facts

Baby Discus eat slime from their parents' skin!

Their round shape is almost perfectly symmetrical.

They are often called the 'King of the Aquarium.'

Wild Discus can live for over a decade!

Special abilities

Discus can feed their newborn fry with nutrient-rich slime produced from their own skin, like fishy milk!

Discus has specialized cells that let them quickly change color to show their mood or blend into their surroundings.

Discus has a very flat, disc-like body shape that helps it expertly navigate through dense underwater plants.

Measurements & details

Length: 15-25 cm
Weight: 0.1-0.3 kg
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Max Depth: 5 m
Water Type: Freshwater

Diet & Feeding

Discus are omnivores, munching on small invertebrates and plant matter found in the water.

Primary Foods

aquatic insect larvae
small crustaceans
algae
detritus

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Peacock Bass

Cichla ocellaris

Larger predatory fish hunt juvenile Discus in the Amazon.

eats

Water Flea

Daphnia pulex

Discus feed on small aquatic crustaceans like water fleas.

eats

Bloodworm

Chironomus plumosus

Discus often consume the larvae of various aquatic insects.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Herbivorous

Meet the peaceful munchers and grazers who find all their nourishment from plants, leaves, and fruits. They transform plant energy into life!

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.