Peru Wild Discus

The wild Peru discus, sometimes called by the less romantic name brown discus, has a golden yellow body with black stripes and blue edging. For exotic fish, these discus fish are hardy and very adaptable to the aquarium. Our Peru discus are caught on the border of Brazil and Peru, and these fish are excellent community and planted tank species, AND perfect for South American theme aquariums.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Give them a reliable heater, gentle filtration, driftwood and dim lighting. Wild discus need very soft, acidic water and very clean, stable conditions.

Feeding: Start with frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp, then slowly add discus granules or pellets. Feed small meals a few times a day and remove anything uneaten within a few minutes.

Tankmates: Discus are calm and shy, so choose gentle tankmates that enjoy the same warm water: cardinal and rummynose tetras, sterbai corydoras and small plecos are popular choices. Avoid fast, boisterous or fin-nipping fish, and anything that competes hard for food. Many keepers avoid angelfish, which can bully discus and share diseases.

Living in groups: Discus are social and feel safest in a group. A single discus, or just two, tends to be stressed. When a pair forms to breed, they may claim part of the tank, so a group spreads out the attention.

Good to know: Wild discus need very soft, acidic water and slow acclimation. Quarantine them before adding to a tank with captive-bred discus.