Snakeskin Discus

The snakeskin discus is a more recent bred variation of the beautiful family of ornamental discus fish. The snakeskin pattern is noted for the fine striations of color throughout the body. The discus are bred in Singapore and tolerate hard water and higher pH, but not higher than 7.6! Snakeskin patterns are a bit more difficult to breed, so they demand a higher price, but all the patterns are pretty :)

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: The fine snakeskin striations become more detailed as the fish grows. Discus show stress by darkening their color and hiding. A dark discus in a corner usually means the water quality or tankmates need checking.