Discus red melon DNZ - Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Symphysodon aequifasciatus is the scientific name of the discus. The Red Melon is a stunning color form that will spice up your aquarium impressively. This South American cichlid originates from rather weakly flowing waters and is found from the Rio Putumayo in Peru to Colombia. As an evergreen it has been in aquaristics for a long time and with the Red Melon it once again proves breeding skills.

You will receive the Red Melon as German offspring (DNZ).

Most striking is their disc-shaped physique, to which they also owe their name. The Red Melon is a particularly pretty color variety with a yellow base color and red fin attachments. The anal fin is elongated and the pelvic fins are also rather pointed. The blunt head has a terminal mouth and small eyes. The discus grows to about 12-15 cm in size and can live 12-15 years with good care.

The home for your new pets should be at least 150 cm long and due to the special body shape of your animals should be accordingly high. Because they get their strength from the group you should keep them best in the Swarm at least 10 animals. Pay attention to a very good water hygiene, because they are sensitive to this. The keeping in a black water aquarium with Bog pine roots is advantageous. With root or stone structures, which you secure against falling over, you can create a great infrastructure. With Cryptocorynes or Vallsneria you can plant the tank. Create territories, because your animals are sometimes somewhat territorial.

Breeding is possible, but more difficult. If you keep a group, a harmonizing pair will crystallize after a while, which you best transfer to a Spawning aquarium into a spawning aquarium. Ensure acidic water values around 1-3 °GH and a pH value of 5.5-6.5. With a spawning cone you can additionally motivate your animals. The pair shows this by intensive cleaning of the same but also of leaves and other smooth surfaces. The spawning act itself usually takes place at dusk. The clutch is intensively groomed by both animals and fanned with the fins to supply it with oxygen. After about 72 hours, the first young hatch, feeding on a secretion that forms on the parents' skin. From the 4th-5th day of hatching, the young can already be fed with very small live food such as infusoria, nauplii or even slipper animals.

A socialization is also possible with other fish, but make sure that they get along with the water parameters. Red neons, butterfly cichlids, but also Corydoras or red-headed tetras are suitable. However, it is better not to add dwarf shrimps and other invertebrates.

Discus are omnivores and should be fed a varied diet. Live and frozen foods such as black and white mosquito larvae (please do not feed red ones!), Artemia, Grindal or Enchytraen are suitable. Commercially available dry, flake or granulated food is also accepted. The vegetable portion in their nutrition should not be too short. It is advantageous to feed sparingly several times a day.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Cichfeed has a grain size of 1.5 mm and is therefore also suitable for larger fish. The NH Cichfeed is a soft granulate for mainly carnivorous ornamental fish. It has the same consistency as small crustaceans and insect larvae that fish naturally eat, and the soft granules protect the fish mouth from micro-injuries that can result from hard feed granules.

Our plant recommendation: For planting, use NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend when keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and husbandry.