WYSIWYG: this is a What You See Is What You Get item. So you get this exact fish, and not a similar fish.

Click here to see several more pictures of the Royal Purple Discus.

Origin: The ancestors of this Discus lived in the Rainforests in the Amazon in South America, but this fish were raised on a famous fish farm.

Maximum Size: In aquariums Discus can grow to be about 6" long and rarely even larger.

Behaviors: Discus are usually not aggressive fish, but from time to time the can be territorial.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include, other Discus varieties, a few Corydoras Catfish, some small Tetras like Neons and Cardinals, and perhaps a small Plecostomus Catfish.

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Temperature: Discus live best from about 75 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.

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Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is best to feed to Discus.

Smaller sized pellets when smaller, and larger sized pellets when larger, is the ideal food for these fish.

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Water Conditions: These fish prefer a pH of about 6 to 7 with low hardness.

Most water in us U.S. has a higher pH and is harder, but these fish can adapt, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or the hardness.

But it may be beneficial to dilute their water with RO water.

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Aquarium Size: Discus will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 60-gallons of water, but of course bigger is better.

Decor: Discus do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

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Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, and Discus seem to love live plants and are healthier in planted aquariums.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

Most 60-gallon aquariums have room along the back for two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of a minimal Discus set up.

Better is a 80, 100, 120, 150, or 200-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.

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The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.

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Life Span: Discus can live for several years.

Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they may live for many years.

Gender: It's difficult to tell males from females, when they're small, but when mature, the male usually has more vibrant colors, while a mature female is often plumper.

Breeding: Discus females will lay eggs on a flat surface that they previously cleaned off.

The male will fertilize them, and then both the male and female guard and tend to their eggs.

When the eggs hatch, the baby Discus feed off the mucus on their parent's sides.

The water will need to be warmer, soft and slightly acidic for best breeding parameters.

Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: These fish have been very popular in the aquarium hobby.

Names: The scientific name for Discus is Symphysodon aequifasciatus.

Variations: There are many color variations of Discus in the aquarium hobby.

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