Discus - Pineapple

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

Scientific Name: Symphysodon discus willischwartzi

Basic Info

The Pineapple Discus is an amazingly bright yellow, sometimes yellow-orange, color. It has vertical stripes over its body, in a lighter shade of creamy yellow or white. The Pineapple Discus is shaped, like all Discus, in a vertically flattened manner. It is, essentially, circular in shape, like a disc.

Health

An adult pair of Pineapple Discus should be offered plenty of space. Water temperatures should remain between 82 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (28 to 30 degrees Celsius). The water should be soft and slightly acidic, with a pH level of about 6.6 and a water hardness between 10 and 15 dGH. Carbonate hardness, specifically, should remain between 6 and 8 dKH. Plenty of hiding places should be provided; often plants are preferred. The addition of peat moss to the tank as a substrate or in a filter is sometimes used to condition the water. Water changes should occur regularly; on a weekly basis, about 20 percent of the water should be replaced. This is because Pineapple Discus are intolerant of high nitrite or nitrate levels. Pineapple Discus should be kept in pairs or small groups, and may be kept with other small, non-aggressive fish. However, the addition of other species to a Discus enclosure may stress them. Omnivorous by nature, most Pineapple Discus can be fed on a variety of items. Often frozen brine shrimp, blood worms, or beef heart are offered. Pineapple Discus also tend to nibble on plants in their enclosures. Many are maintained nicely on flake or pellet foods. Pineapple Discus should be fed small amounts of food several times daily to avoid soiling the water. Because Pineapple Discus are usually sensitive to internal parasites, you should use caution when adding other fish to their enclosures. Breeding Often, groups of juvenile Pineapple Discus are combined in order to form bonded pairs, which will then be separated into separate breeding tanks. To breed Pineapple Discus, water temperatures should be raised to a level between 86 and 89 degrees Fahrenheit (30 and 32 degrees Celsius). The pH level should be adjusted to a level between 6.0 and 6.8, with a dGH between 3 and 10 and a dKH that is undetectable or as high as 3. Some hard surface, like a potted plant or slate slab, should be provided, so the Pineapple Discus pair is able to deposit its eggs somewhere.

Habitat

Fresh water fish - They seem to prefer areas of slow moving black water, with plenty of covered hiding areas.

Behavior

With its bright, tropically sunny coloration, the Pineapple Discus can add a splash of cheerful color to many aquariums. Although Discus have reputations for being rather difficult to maintain, many enthusiasts maintain that, so long as water conditions are correct, Discus are not as hard to keep as one might think! In captivity, Pineapple Discus should be allowed plenty of hiding places in order to prevent them from becoming stressed. It is usually recommended that Pineapple Discus be kept in groups of six to eight fish of the same species. In smaller tanks, it is advisable to keep a pair, as a single fish may become easily stressed. In the wild, Pineapple Discus occur in groups of related fish. They may be kept in captivity with small fish, like Dwarf Gouramis or Clown Loaches, though it is not recommended to combine them with large, aggressive, or overly active fish.

Origin

Amazon

History

Pineapple Discus are native to South America. They are found specifically in the Rio Abacaxis, located south of the Amazon River.

Common Foods

N/A