Cichlid Breeding

About Wild Discus

Wild Discus first appeared in the aquarium hobby in the 1920’s, and even now despite selective breeding programs and the large number of Discus fish bred by hobbyists, they are still very much in demand. Though difficult to care for, Wild Discus are a rarity that will usually become the centerpiece of collectors show tanks. In their natural environment, Wild Discus fish are widely found in calm parts of small, blackwater rivers, lakes and deep pools throughout the Amazon River basin. Wild Discus prefer to stay in small groups around submerged decaying trees, vegetation and aquatic grasses. The water is usually very clean with little or no pollutants, acidic (6.0-6.5 pH), very soft (0-3 dH) and warm with a temperature not usually over 78°F (25°C) degrees.

Wild Discus are caught in the Amazon River basin at night by using a strong light to mesmerize the fish, the area is then encircled with netting and slowly drawn closer, with all obstructions such as wood being removed. Some species of Wild Discus are now considered endangered in some areas of the Amazon River basin.

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Intro to Cichlid Breeding

I’ve been in the hobby for quite some time and while technologically the industry has never been as advanced and efficient, it also has never been as complicated for the home aquarist. In the past there was a far smaller selection of products, fish and information, so things were rather straight forward. You would ask someone that worked at a local pet store for advice, read a fish book or perhaps get lucky and meet a local fish breeder willing to share their knowledge. The growth of both the hobby and technology has led to quite a lot of innovation and variety, which I fully support. However, it does make things rather overwhelming for those new to the hobby. So here I will try to give you some history and information on Cichlids, Cichlid breeding, what you will need and how to care for your Cichlids.

About Cichlids

All Cichlid species belong to the family Cichlidae, each having its own characteristics and requirements. There are at least 1300 scientifically described species, though numerous new species are discovered annually and many species remain undescribed. Thus, the actual number of species is unclear, with estimates varying between 1300 and 3000 species. Cichlids have become quite popular freshwater aquarium fish as most are small to medium sized, have a beautiful variety of shapes and colors, breed readily and practice brood care in captivity. Some of the most popular aquarium fish are Cichlids, including freshwater Angelfish, Discus fish, Oscar fish and Convict Cichlids. Thus, Cichlid breeding has become quite popular as more aquarist try breeding Cichlids themselves.

Cichlids are found throughout the world, including Africa, Asia, South America, Central America and even North America. Thus Cichlids are often categorized by their region, in which there are three main groups of Cichlids: African Cichlids, South American Cichlids and American Cichlids. African Cichlids mostly come from the Great African Rift Lakes: Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria. South American Cichlids are found throughout the Amazon River Basin, while American Cichlids are found mostly across Central America and a few species in North America.

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Discus Fish

The Discus fish is a South American Cichlid that belong to the genus Symphysodon, which currently includes three species: The common Discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus), the Heckel Discus fish (Symphysodon discus) and a new species of Discus fish which has been named Symphysodon tarzoo. The Discus fish was first introduced in the 1920’s and is now regarded as one of the most beautiful of all aquarium fish. While they are colorful and attractive, they are quite difficult to care for; nevertheless, their popularity continues to rise.

As the name implies, Discus fish have the typical disc-shaped body with full dorsal and anal fins reaching to the tail. The body of an adult Discus fish can reach about 8 to 10 inches in diameter. Originally, due to the environmental diversity of the vast Amazon River basin separate populations developed differential in color and markings. Discus fish breeders have greatly expanded upon this and developed new variations through selective breeding, with the colors and patterns of the Discus fish varying according to the type of species bred, habitat and diet.

Discus fish are widely found in calm parts of small, blackwater rivers, lakes and deep pools throughout the Amazon River basin. The water is usually very clean with little or no pollutants, acidic (6.0-6.5 pH), very soft (0-3 dH) and warm with a temperature of around 77-84°F (25-29°C). They are usually found in small groups around submerged decaying trees, vegetation and aquatic grasses. Discus fish are wild-caught in the Amazon River basin at night by using a strong light to mesmerize the fish, the area is then encircled with netting and slowly drawn closer, with all obstructions such as wood being removed. Some species of Discus fish are now considered endangered in some areas of the Amazon River basin. If you want more information about Discus fish in their natural habitat check out our Wild Discus article.
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