Ghost Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus var. "Ghost"
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 15–18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 350 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
Species profile
Discus
Symphysodon
Common names: Discus, Discus Fish
Genus profileCichlids
Adult size
Up to 20 cm
Typical adult length 14–20 cm.
Up to 20 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Advanced shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A genus-level profile for wild and captive discus, warm-water shoaling cichlids requiring stable conditions, excellent water quality, and careful social management.
Appearance and Identification
Discus are strongly compressed, nearly circular cichlids with vertical bars and extensive blue, green, red, brown, or patterned colour. Domestic strains vary greatly.
This is a genus-level husbandry profile. Wild locality forms and captive strains should be labelled more specifically when their species or breeding line is known.
Sexes are difficult to separate visually. Mature males may be larger with a broader head, but the breeding tubes and spawning behaviour are more reliable.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 700–1,050 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 350–525 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 350 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 150 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 6
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Keep a group of at least five or six in a tall, mature aquarium with excellent filtration, calm flow, open feeding space, vertical cover, and warm stable water. Quarantine all additions.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A calm, hierarchical shoaling cichlid that can become shy, bullied, or food-deprived when kept in too small a group.
Groups form a pecking order. Pairs separate to spawn and may need their own breeding aquarium.
Breeding pairs defend a vertical surface and surrounding area; outside breeding, aggression is mainly social ranking.
Use calm warm-water tank mates that do not nip fins, dominate food, or require cooler water. Small fish and shrimp may be eaten.
Water Parameters
Wild fish generally need softer, more acidic water than long-established domestic strains. Temperature and water cleanliness must remain consistently high.
Parameter caveat
Do not combine fish from very different temperatures or mineral levels without slow acclimation. Chronic heat reduces oxygen, so aeration and filtration must be strong.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
Daraz NepalCheck availability on Daraz
Feeding
- Diet types
- Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Quality sinking cichlid pelletUse a staple pellet appropriate to the fish size and mouth shape.
- Chopped shrimp, mussel, or earthwormOffer clean unseasoned portions as rotating protein foods.
- Blanched leafy greens or peasUseful for omnivorous and plant-eating species; remove leftovers promptly.
- Frozen krill or mysisFeed in moderation to add variety and support colour.
An omnivorous micropredator that benefits from varied pellets, frozen invertebrates, and clean live foods.
Feed several small meals daily. Avoid mammal heart mixtures as a staple and remove uneaten food quickly in warm water.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 29 °C
- Breeding pH
- 6
- Brood or egg count
- Commonly 100 to 400 eggs, depending on species, strain, and female size.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Biparental care
- Baby foods
- Parental skin mucusNewly free-swimming fry graze specialised mucus from both parents.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce once fry are large enough while they continue grazing the parents.
- Fine powdered discus fry foodUse gradually as a supplement during weaning.
Discus form pairs and lay eggs on vertical surfaces. Both parents guard the clutch and produce epidermal mucus that feeds newly free-swimming fry.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, South America
- Natural habitat
- Blackwater, Clearwater, Floodplain, Slow River
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Freshwater Community, Large Freshwater Aquarium, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Advanced
Classification
- Profile type
- Genus profile
- Genus
- Symphysodon
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Discus, Fish, South American Cichlids
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Golden Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus var. "Golden"
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 15–18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 350 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
Golden Snakeskin Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus var. "Golden Snakeskin"
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 15–18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 350 litres
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
Green Discus
Symphysodon tarzoo
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 12–16 cm
- Minimum tank
- 350 litres
- Temperature
- 26–30 °C