Scientific Name: Symphysodon discus

Family: American Cichlids

Habitat: Amazon Basin in Brazil, Peru and Colombia

pH: min: 4.2 max: 6.2 (in aquarium: 6.5 – 7.5)

Temperature: min:22 max:28

Maximum Size: 20 cm (with good food and good water)

Sociability: Peaceful in shoals, but if you keep 2 or 3 the larger fish become aggressive.

Maintenance: Complex

Aquarium: Min: 50 liters per fish and High

Aquarium Zone: Surface and a half

Recommended Ration: MegaFood Tropical Basic accompanied by MegaFood Spirulina

Discus is the common name given to all freshwater fish species classified in the genus Symphysodon.

It belongs to the cichlid family and currently comprises two species and three subspecies. It is endemic to South America, where it can be found in rivers in the Amazon basin, in Brazil, Peru and Colombia.

Its main characteristics are its colors and the discoid shape of its body. It lives in schools and feeds on small crustaceans, larvae, insects and fruits in its natural habitat.

It reaches an average of 15 to 18 centimeters in length and inhabits small lakes and streams with calm, clear waters. The discus is one of the most popular freshwater fish in the world for its varied colors and its long dorsal and tail fin. It is an ornamental and extremely peaceful species, being suitable to be raised with fish with the same temperament; however, it is very demanding with regard to water quality, so it cannot always be kept in aquariums with many different species.

taxonomy

The discus belongs to the Heroini tribe, of the Cichlidae family, in the order Perciformes, which is still little studied. It was described by the Austrian zoologist Johann Jakob Heckel in 1840 as Symphysodon. The exact phylogenetic position of this genus among the others belonging to the Heroini tribe is unknown. The type species of this genus is Symphysodon discus.

The specific name Discus refers to its discoid form, while its generic name, Symphysodon, is a Greek word. Symphys means growing in groups and odon means teeth, referring to their reduced dentition relative to other cichlids.

The genus includes only two species: Symphysodon discus (Disco-Heckel) and Symphysodon aequifasciatus (Disco-blue-brown), but recent studies carried out with their DNA have shown the possible existence of a third species, named by scientists as Symphysodon tarzoo; however the analyzes were not conclusive. The acceptance of this species is still being studied by researchers.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are currently recognized, based on genetic analysis. All were described by the American ichthyologist Leonard Peter Schultz in 1960, after the description of Pelegrin Franganillo-Balboa of the species Symphysodon aequifasciatus in 1904:

Symphysodon aequifasciatus axelrodi – Brown discus mite: It has a yellowish-brown body and a head with bluish streaks.
Symphysodon aequifasciatus haraldi – Blue discus mite: It has a light brown body, with strong blue streaks on the head, back and fins.
Symphysodon aequifasciatus aequifasciatus – Green Discus Acara: It has a blue-green body, with striking blue streaks on the head, back and fins.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The discus is native to the Amazon, but it can only be found in some countries in South America. The Heckel disc is found in the eastern part of the Amazon, mainly in the Nhamundá, Branco, Negro, Purus, Abacaxis and rivers Trumpets. The green disk has a restricted distribution to the western part of the Amazon, in the Japurá, Içá and Nanay rivers. The brown-disk and blue-disk subspecies are generally found in the Solimões, Amazon, Urubu, Juruá, Tefé, Coari, Uatumã, Trombetas, Tapajós, Jari and Tocantins rivers. The blue-brown disk can be found in the beds of Amazon rivers and in some hydrographic basins in Colombia and Peru, with a wider distribution of the genus.

They inhabit rivers with calm, shallow and clear waters, with abundant aquatic vegetation, submerged trunks and roots, being slightly warm, with acidic characteristics and low hardness. They live mainly in floodplain lakes and marginal lakes.

behavior and reproduction

The discus has a territorial behavior and does not carry out reproductive migrations. During the rainy season, they live alone or in small groups in deep water, but during the dry season they form large schools near fallen trees along the banks of the lakes.

It reaches sexual maturity at twelve months of age and spawns more than once a year, with about 1,500 eggs per spawn. At the time of reproduction, they form couples through sexual courtship, characteristic of cichlids. They usually lay eggs on large leaves or stones. During spawning, the female lays a small amount of eggs that will soon be fertilized by the male. pair maintains constant agitation of the water around them, fanning them with their fins, to ensure the necessary oxygenation. Then the parents are committed to cleaning them and keeping them safe until the larvae hatch.

Depending on the water temperature, the eggs hatch after two or five days and remain with the yolk sac for another three or four days, until they can swim freely. After hatching, the larvae are fed mucus released by their parents for two weeks. After this period, they can be fed with brine shrimp, but they will need their parents’ secretion for another thirty days. With approximately fifty days, they can be separated from adults.

Characteristics

The discus is generally referred to as The King of Aquarius. It is considered a small fish, reaching 15 centimeters in length. It has a laterally flattened body with a relatively long dorsal and caudal fin, which contribute to the discoid shape of its body. It has only one nasal orifice on each side of the nostril, a prostatic mouth and thick lips. Males are larger, more colorful and with the first dorsal fin rays thicker and longer. They do not have evident sexual dimorphism.

Their colors vary depending on the species and may have red, blue, green, brown, white and yellow tones, and currently there are about 600 variations. They have several rows of scales at the base of the dorsal and caudal fins, generally blue streaks throughout the body and eight to nine dark transversal bands over the body.

Threats / Diseases

Like many other fish, the discus is susceptible to infections such as parasites, mycoses, bacteriosis, viruses and even ectoparasites.
However, under natural conditions the infectious agents that infest them are not numerous enough to affect the health of the host, because the nutritional and physiological state of the fish is properly adjusted to the environment. Specifically for the discus, the following parasites are found : protozoa (Piscinoodinium pillulare, Ichthyophthirius multifillis, Costia necatrix, Trichodina), monogenetic metazoans (Dactylogyrus vastator and Gyrodactylus elegans), mycoses and bacterioses.

In captivity, four diseases attack the species more frequently, as well as other species:

Gastroenteritis: by Aeromonas hydrophila a gram-negative bacterium.
Hexamitosis: caused by protozoa such as Hexamita meleagridis and Hexamita symphysodonis.
Capillariasis: caused by the nematodes Capillaria pterophylli. It usually affects species belonging to the cichlid family.
Ichthyouris Infestation: Caused by parasites. Affects fish intestines.

Extinction risk

Despite not being on the IUCN Red List, the number of discus in the wild has declined on a large scale since the 1990s. for breeding in aquariums. Other factors of anthropogenic influence that contribute to the disappearance of the species is gold mining, which releases mercury into the water, deforestation and forest fires, as they increase the temperature of the region and prevent the formation of clouds, extending the dry period.

captive breeding

Discus discus bred in an aquarium.
The first discus bred in captivity date back to 1933. They were captured in the wild and died shortly after being introduced to the aquarium. It was from 1935 onwards that the first reports of specimens that reproduced in captivity and reached adulthood appeared. During this period, they were exported in small quantities to Europe and the United States. Larger exports took place after the end of World War II, when motorsports developed. However, it was only in the 1980s that a systematic activity of discus exploration began.

It is one of the most popular species in the world used for fishkeeping, as well as one of the most explored. However, they are very demanding about the conditions in which they live, and it is not advisable to maintain them by aquarists who have not yet mastered the control of the water parameters of their aquariums. They should be kept in large aquariums with a minimum of 20 liters for each specimen, in order to avoid territorial disputes. They are very sensitive in relation to water quality and prefer acidic pH water, around 4.2 and 6.2 and with a temperature around of 26 and 30°C.

As they are found in rivers with abundant aquatic vegetation and poor lighting, aquariums should have plants, decorated with logs and stones, and placed in low light places, to resemble their natural habitat. However, not all plants adapt to water temperature and low lighting, with some of the most suitable being the Pygmy Chain Swords (Echinodorus tenellus) and the Java Fern (Microsorium pteropus).

They should not be bred with aggressive species or species that eat quickly, as they can be attacked or end up not eating. They should be kept with fish with a temperament equal to yours and that are adapted to the same quality of water. The most suitable species are neons (Paracheirodon innesi), some species of tetras (Characidae), such as the cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi), catfish (Siluriformes) and some cichlids (Cichlidae). They accept live and frozen foods well, as well as industrialized flake feed.

O post TECHNICAL DATA: ACARA DISCUS apareceu primeiro em Megafood.

Scientific Name: Betta splendens

Family: Osphronemids

Habitat: Southwest Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar)

pH: min: 6.8 max: 7.4

Temperature: min: 24° max: 28°

Hardness: min:4 max:8

Maximum Size: 6 cm

Sociability: Males are very territorial for this reason you can only have one male per aquarium, females are also territorial but they can keep together.

Maintenance: Easy

Aquarium Zone: Surface and half aquarium.

Food: Omnivore. Live food, specific feed, larvae, brine shrimp.

Recommended Ration: MegaFood Betta

Characteristics: This fish has the particularity of breathing atmospheric air thanks to organs called labyrinths that make the air pass very close to the bloodstream, providing the exchange of oxygen with the blood through diffusion.

Reproduction: Oviparous, males defend their territory formed around a bubble nest that they build and defend. The females “visit” the males who court them until they release the eggs, then and after fertilization the males place the eggs in the nest and expel the female from the territory. The hatch takes between 24 to 48 hours.

Sexual Dimorphism: Males usually have longer fins than females, the exception is the Plakat male that is confused with a female as it does not have as long fins as other males.

O post TECHNICAL DATA: BETTA apareceu primeiro em Megafood.

Scientific name(s): Astronotus ocellatus

Family: Cichlid

pH: 6.5 – 7.2

Temperature: Does not tolerate cold water. Ideal 22 – 25 °C

Sexual Dysmorphism: Few differences. Males a little bigger and more colorful as adults.

Food: Omnivore

Recommended Ration: MegaFood Carnivores  and as a complement MegaFood Tenebrio

Reproduction: Oviparous

Geographic origin: South America

The Oscar Fish is one of the several types of Acará Fish that exist. It is a fish of the Cichlid family and its scientific name is Astronotus Ocellatus.

Types of Oscar Fish: There are several types of Oscar fish like Oscar albino, Oscar albino pink, Oscar albino red, Oscar albino red tiger, Oscar black, Oscar tiger, Oscar bronze and the Oscar veil.

Care: Oscar Fish is fast growing and widely used in aquarium fish. In nature, its geographical distribution is in the Amazon basin and dams in the Northeast and Southeast. Oscar fish prefers a slightly acidic pH, between 6.5 and 6.8.

When raised in aquariums, partial water changes (20%) should be done more often in summer than in winter. The temperature must be between 21 and 26°C, at lower temperatures Oscar can stop feeding.

Oscar needs 12 hours of dark and 12 hours of light. At night, when at rest, he is almost lying down. Aquariums of 100 to 200 liters are needed for an adult individual and the aquarium must always be covered, as Oscar fish easily jumps out of the aquarium. It has dark coloring and mosaic designs when young and as it grows it gains light and dark patches of grayish green and orange. On the caudal fin there is an ocellus, a dark circular spot surrounded by a bright orange.

His hobby is tinkering with the decoration of the aquarium, even managing to take large stones from one corner to another, turning over the substrate and pulling out plants. There are reports of Oscar who eat from the keeper’s hand, let him caress his back, so they are very nice and sweet fish when used to their owner!

Reproduction: The ideal for reproduction of the Oscar is an aquarium between 200 and 250 liters. The water should be around 28°C.

There is a big stir in the aquarium before mating, and so-called ‘mouth games’ happen, which are a test of strength, where male and female face each other with their mouths wide open. After a few battles and biting each other, the couple move away from the other fish in the aquarium. A tile is placed facing downwards so that they prepare the place for spawning, the female lays the eggs in a circular motion while the male fertilizes them between 800 and 2,000 eggs.

After spawning, there is a great agitation in the water caused by the fish, with their fins, to oxygenate the eggs, and as a defense and protection against the attack of fungi and bacteria. After 3 or 4 days the eggs will hatch. The male then transports the fingerlings in his mouth to holes he makes in the substrate, taking care of them until they can swim on their own.

In the first days the fingerlings feed on the yolk sac. When this is finished, it is necessary to provide food such as beef pates, liver and non-fat fish, microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp. They should be fed every two hours in moderation.

For adults there are specific foods for carnivores, they also like small fish, heart and liver in small pieces. Vitamin ¨E¨ is essential in your diet, for its good development and good reproduction.

Always remember to have good filtration in the aquarium.

O post TECHNICAL DATA: OSCAR (ASTRONOTUS OCELLATUS) apareceu primeiro em Megafood.

Scientific Name: Hasemania nana, Lütken, 1875

Family: Characidae

Origin: South America / São Francisco River Basin

Sociability: School

pH: 6.0 to 7.2

Temperature: 22 to 28°C

Water hardness: soft to medium

Life expectancy: About 5 years

Maintenance: Easy

Adult Size: Approximately 5 cm

Food: Omnivorous, accepts everything, to encourage reproduction and keep your fish healthy and with beautiful colors, it is recommended to offer live food at least once a week.

Recommended Ration: MegaFood Tropical Basic accompanied by MegaFood Spirulina

Sexual dimorphism: The male is smaller, more colorful and the belly is straight. The female has a less intense coloration, the belly is plump and is larger than the male. Important: these characteristics appear in fish at the end of the juvenile stage and in adults, the sexual difference between offspring is more difficult to be observed.

Behavior: They are schooling and peaceful fish.

Reproduction: Oviparous, are considered free spreaders, as the female releases her eggs into the water and the male swims around fertilizing them. Eggs hatch within a few hours when kept at a higher temperature and after two or three days of hatching the fingerlings have already consumed the contents of the yolk sac and begin to swim.

There is no parental care among fish of this species, from the moment the pups are free-swimming, specific rations can be offered for oviparous fingerlings and live food such as infusoria, microworms, brine shrimp, as the pups grow food larger living can be offered.

Newborn eggs and fingerlings are very sensitive to light, so an aquarium with several floating plants to attenuate the light is necessary.

It is recommended to use an internal foam filter or put perlon in the water inlet of the external filter to avoid sucking the puppies, when in aquariums suitable for reproduction.

Minimum aquarium size: 50 liters.

Other information: As they are shoal, these tetrinhas should not be kept in groups of less than 5 individuals, the larger the shoal, the more natural their behavior. The disputes over territory or females are magnificent to watch, the males (usually the biggest among them) face off and display their fins and colors in as much splendor as possible. They are beautiful fish for planted and themed aquariums!

The genus Hasemania is one of the few among the Characidae family in which the species does not have an adipose fin.

These fish show their coloration vividly only when kept in an ideal environment, fish in a stressful situation (store batteries, right after transport, etc.) can show a very pale color, which is easily reversed when transferred to a location with parameters and species-appropriate needs.

It is extremely important to monitor the water parameters, for which periodic pH, GH, KH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate tests are recommended. There are products that constantly test certain parameters, without the aquarist needing to do them all the time, and that allow 24-hour monitoring, they are Seachem Ammonia Alert and Seachem pH Alert – both available in our “Medicines and Tests” area. All other chemical tests can also be found in the same above-mentioned area of ​​the website.

Equally important is the constant maintenance of the water temperature to avoid sudden drops that can lead to the weakening of the animal’s immune system and the emergence of diseases. This maintenance is achieved with the aid of heaters and/or thermostats – the latter being the most recommended, as they have a mechanism that controls the temperature, thus avoiding excessive heating of the aquarium water – and it is monitored using thermometers that can be either internal and external. Accessing our area entitled “Temperature” you will find several options for thermometers, heaters and thermostats.

Fish that can be placed with tetras: Tetras are shoals, you must place 3 units (minimum) of the same type of each tetra. In addition to other male and female tetras of any other variants, you can place them together with all small and medium-sized acidic fish. Do not place them with adult mites or river fish (they can eat them if they fit in your mouth). You can adapt them to neutral pH and place with all fish of this pH. We don’t recommend putting it in alkaline pH, as it decreases its life expectancy from hours (depends on the acclimatization) to years and will silently mistreat them, forcing its nature (we don’t agree).

O post TECHNICAL DATA: TETRA SILVER TIP apareceu primeiro em Megafood.