Brown Discus

[Zafgak]

Hi all - I have recently saved a brown type discus and the owner graciously let me keep it, (a gift for saving it), Thankyou for the fish - you know who you are ....

The fish is about 7cm wide and 10cm high...

My problem is I have no mates or friends for this poor fish. I am getting a 1.5m tank ready for it, but I need mates and friends to keep it happy.

Can anyone out there help me with some brown discus ???? and yes I am willing to pay for them, as long as it does not bend or break the bank card. :cheesy:

The last time I kept discus was back in the 70's so a little help and direction would be appreciated on all aspects of keeping these fish.

[speedz]

what type of setup are you planning for it?

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Hi Zafgak,

I do not think that this is a brown discus as they are just about not traded anymore. It may be a blue discus, which are actually brown and have blue on the edges of body. Occasionally one gets blue discus that have the blue lines completely over the whole body and then they are called Royal Blue discus. Show us a pic so that I can give you an opinion.

They may be "Alencer" discus (or sometimes spelt "Alenquer") which are a reddish type of brown discus. I may be able to supply some of those in future.

With regard to keeping discus, this is a steep learning curve. I think I may post a separate thread about feeding of discus, but otherwise you need very good filtration and excellent tank sanitation.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Dirk Bellstedt]

I have posted advice about feeding your discus under the "Ask the Professor" topic.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Zafgak]

Thanx for the replies Dirk - I am setting up a filtration system with a drip tray, wool, bioballs, then return. I am adding a coil de-nitrator which will tap from the sump return
and return to the drip tray. ( Stealing some ideas from your setup :> )

[Zafgak]

Hi Dirk _ thought it may be Alencer, as it was closest I could find on the NET and in Books - Here is two photos

[Dirk Bellstedt]

Hi Zafgak,

This is definitely not a brown discus, this is a hybrid strain called San Merah. It is a selection out of pidgeon blood discus and may have some Alencer thrown in, but it certainly far removed from wild brown discus.

Kind regards,

Dirk

[Zafgak]

Thanx for the rapid reply Prof - I will start research on San Merah. We have just got a new 2m tank and I was wondering how the discus would be in a community tank ?