Pigeon Blood Discus

The Pigeon Blood (or Pigeon) Discus was developed in Germany in the 1970s by using the genetic stock of wild discus with red markings discovered by Heiko Bleher. The Pigeon Blood Discus subsequently became the parent to all other Red Discus, including Super-Reds, Red Marlboro, and Checkerboard.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Give them a reliable heater, gentle but strong filtration, and a bare bottom or fine sand for easy cleaning. Keep the tank in a quiet spot. Discus need very clean water.

Feeding: Feed small meals of quality discus pellets or granules a few times a day, and remove uneaten food within a few minutes, since leftovers quickly foul the water. They also enjoy frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. New arrivals may need frozen food for a while before they accept pellets.

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: Pigeon blood strains can show small black "peppering" marks depending on lighting, stress and diet. They usually fade in good conditions.