In nature discus eat a considerable amount of plant material and detritus, but also forage along the bottom looking for worms and small crustaceans.
All of these fish tolerate the high temperatures and low pH/hardness required by discus. However, suitable aquarium mates include cardinal tetras, neons, emperor and rummy nose tetras, as well as clown loaches and dwarf cichlids such as rams and Apistogramma species. Most serious hobbyists do not mix their discus with too many other species. Shy or submissive fish should be removed if they are unable to compete. Substrate should be fine to medium grade and smooth surfaced, as discus like to forage along the bottom for food.ĭiscus are generally calm, peaceful fish, but as cichlids they can be aggressive toward one another, especially when attempting to pair off and spawn. A few floating plants can also be added to provide shaded areas and cover. Current should be gentle, and décor if used at all should include large broadleaf plants and driftwood that is arranged vertically to simulate downed branches and trees. Tall aquariums are best, to accommodate their body shape.
RED PHANTOM TETRA FULL
Don’t forget to treat tap water with conditioner before refilling your aquarium!ĭiscus grow to be quite large, and full sized discus will require an aquarium of 50 gallons or larger when they reach adult size. Discus require pristine water quality, and depending on the filtration system being used, a weekly or bi-weekly water change of 10% to 25% is highly recommended. While captive bred discus can be kept in dechlorinated tap water reverse osmosis or deionized water supplemented will ensure the the best conditions. Water conditions for both wild and hybrid discus are the same. Temperature should be kept between 82° and 89° F. pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0, with hardness between 1° and 4° dKH (18 to 70 ppm). They prefer quiet water, and are rarely found in areas where there is strong current or wave action.ĭiscus prefer warm, soft, acidic water. Discus tend to congregate near fallen trees, known as “galhadas”, along the shore. These areas experience extreme changes in water level due to seasonal flooding. This is the best time to spot the phantoms - their habitats are clear as the rising waters dissipate and slow the current, leading to suspended particles sinking to the bottom and improving visibility.Moderate, see our Learning Center for comprehensive care.ĭiscus are found in floodplain lakes and flooded forests of the lowland Amazon River basin and some of its tributaries, including the Rio Negro. This is the time when fish congregate to breed and take advantage of the numerous additional resources available: flooded vegetation in which to hide and rear young, access to fruit, seeds, insects and organic matter beyond the river channel and of course, the chance to breed during these times of plenty. Grasslands, forests, roads and lakes all disappear under up to 4 metres of water. In the wet season, the river rises, bursting its banks and inundating the surrounding landscape. The Salobra is a relatively small river, rarely more than 8m across, and during the dry season it may be only a few feet deep, up to about 1.5m in the deepest channels. There, the cover of the roots of these vigorous plants can provide safe haven for many small fishes and allows them to predate on the numerous insects which live on and around the plants. I have often collected them from the shadowy open space beneath beds of floating Water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes. I have spent many hours observing them in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil, especially in the Salobra river of Mato Grosso do Sul, where this footage was recorded.īlack (or rather red) phantom tetras (not to be confused with THE Red phantom tetra, Hyphessobrycon sweglesi) prefer to hug the banks, foraging among root networks, fallen branches and near to marginal and aquatic vegetation. Whatever the reason, the wild forms are one of my favourites! They behave quite similarly to H. When brought to Europe, breeders and sellers may have realised there was more money to be made in offering two distinct coloured fish, rather than simply having two very similar red tetras.
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