Discus
The kings of the planted tank — large, laterally-compressed Amazonian cichlids with vivid color morphs and complex parental care. Discus need warm, pristine water and a patient keeper.
3 species
TetrasRasborasCichlidsLivebearersGouramisCatfishPlecosCorydorasLoachesKillifishBarbsDaniosRainbowfishBettasDiscusShrimp
Discus
FishSymphysodon discus
The crown jewel of the Amazon, built for serious fishkeepers who love a challenge.
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Discus
FishSymphysodon aequifasciata alenquer
The grand centerpiece of the Amazon, rewarding patient keepers with unmatched presence.
Discus
FishSymphysodon aequifasciatus
The regal centerpiece fish that rewards patient, attentive fishkeepers.
Popular strains & varieties
Named color morphs and bred strains across discus species.
Blue Diamondstrain of DiscusA solid, uniform electric blue covers the entire body — no vertical bars, no patterning, just clean unbroken color from nose to tail. The best specimens look almost metallic under bright lighting. This is one of the most popular discus in the hobby for a reason: it photographs beautifully and reads well in any aquascape. When selecting, reject fish with patchy blue or visible ghost barring, which indicates incomplete line-breeding. Pairs tend to be reliable parents. Water quality demands are typical discus — soft, warm, and pristine — but Blues are considered among the hardier fancy strains.Heckel Crossstrain of DiscusThe Heckel Cross is a first-generation hybrid between a pure Symphysodon discus and a domesticated Symphysodon aequifasciatus strain, most often a Turquoise or Blue Diamond. The result is a fish that retains the bold, dark 1st, 5th, and 9th bars characteristic of the Heckel while layering in iridescent blue or turquoise patterning across the body. The bars are typically softer than a pure Heckel but still clearly dominant. Coloration can vary widely depending on the domestic parent used. Hardier than pure Heckel and more forgiving of slightly harder water, these are often recommended as a gateway into the Heckel look without the strict soft-water demands.Red Heckelstrain of DiscusRed Heckels are wild-caught Symphysodon discus specimens — primarily from the Rio Negro and its blackwater tributaries — selected specifically for intense reddish-orange base coloration overlaid with the classic three dominant Heckel bars. The body background shifts toward warm amber-red tones rather than the more common brown or olive base, and the iridescent striping often carries a blue-green shimmer in good light. These fish are not a captive-bred strain in the traditional sense; they are a regional color form. Expect strict water requirements: very soft (< 50 ppm TDS), acidic (pH 4.5–6.0), and warm (82–86°F). Acclimation is slow — don't rush it.Red Turquoisestrain of DiscusBrilliant turquoise-blue horizontal stripes run across a warm red-orange base, creating one of the most striking contrast patterns in the discus hobby. The red ground color should be deep and saturated, not washed out, and the turquoise lines should be tight, well-defined, and numerous. Fish with broad, broken, or sparse striping are lower-grade specimens. The caudal and dorsal fins often carry strong red pigmentation that extends the base color nicely. Red Turquoise are a benchmark strain — if you see a discus in a tank photo and can't stop staring, it's probably this variety.Blue Turquoisestrain of DiscusSimilar in pattern to Red Turquoise but built on a cooler blue-grey to steel-blue base rather than a red one. The horizontal turquoise striping is the same hallmark, but the overall palette reads calm and oceanic rather than fiery. Quality specimens show dense, fine striping across the full body disc including the forehead, with minimal brown or grey showing through between lines. Many hobbyists prefer this variety in Dutch-style planted tanks where the cooler tones complement green foliage. It's a classic strain and widely available, making it a good entry point into patterned discus.Heckel Wildstrain of DiscusThe classic wild-caught Symphysodon discus, collected from blackwater systems of the central Amazon basin — most famously the Rio Negro around Barcelos. Instantly identified by the three dramatically thickened, jet-black bars (bars 1, 5, and 9) standing out against a brown to olive-grey body with finer blue or red wavy striping across the flanks. No two fish look identical, and locality variation is significant. These are demanding fish: they require near-distilled, warm, acidic blackwater conditions to thrive and are intolerant of the shortcuts that captive-bred discus forgive. Wild feeding can be challenging early on — live or frozen foods are often necessary to get them eating reliably.Pigeon Bloodstrain of DiscusBold yellow-orange to deep orange-red base with dark, irregular black speckling or peppering scattered across the body — this is the 'dirt' that beginners sometimes mistake for disease. The pepper pattern is genetic and normal; fish with no pepper at all are often the result of hormone treatment and best avoided. Eyes are typically red. The Pigeon Blood gene has been crossed into dozens of other strains, but pure Pigeon Bloods remain popular for their warm, saturated warmth. Fins tend to be clear to lightly pigmented. Robust and relatively forgiving compared to some fancy strains.Marlboro Redstrain of DiscusAn intensely uniform red to red-orange fish with minimal patterning — think of a cleaner, more saturated version of a red discus that holds its color edge-to-edge. Top specimens have a rich, deep red over the entire disc with clear to faintly yellow fins. The challenge with Marlboro Reds is that color can fade significantly with poor diet or substandard water; this is a strain where feeding high-quality color-enhancing foods (astaxanthin-based) makes a visible difference. Avoid fish showing patchy color or brownish undertones, which indicate stress or weak genetics.Snakeskinstrain of DiscusOne of the most complex-looking discus varieties: fine, squiggly, closely packed lines or dots cover the body in a pattern that genuinely resembles snake or reptile scales. The base color can range from tan to brown to orange depending on the line, but the intricate overprint pattern is what defines this variety. High-grade Snakeskins have dense, continuous patterning without large unbroken patches of base color showing through. The pattern takes time to fully develop — juveniles often look muddy until about 8–10 cm. A truly well-marked specimen is one of the most visually complex fish in freshwater.Leopardstrain of DiscusDiscrete, rounded spots scattered over a contrasting base give this variety its name — it reads like a leopard or dalmatian pattern rather than the continuous lines of Snakeskin. Spot size, density, and regularity vary considerably across lines; the best specimens have uniform, well-separated spots over a clean background. Base color is commonly orange, yellow, or cream. The Leopard pattern is actually a variant expression within the broader snakeskin gene family, and quality varies more than in some other strains — be selective when purchasing. Grows out well and color pattern stabilizes by adult size.Cobalt Bluestrain of DiscusA deep, rich blue that's darker and more saturated than Blue Diamond — closer to a true cobalt or navy in the best specimens. Unlike Blue Diamond's uniform coverage, Cobalt Blues sometimes retain subtle darker vertical banding that adds depth rather than detracting from appearance. The blue tends to have less of a metallic sheen and more of a flat-rich quality. This is an older strain in the hobby and one of the foundational patterned-to-solid blue varieties. Select fish with even color distribution and no obvious brown or grey patches; those indicate stress coloration rather than true cobalt pigmentation.Red Melonstrain of DiscusA warm, glowing red-orange to melon-orange fish with largely solid coloration and a clean, unfussy appearance. The color is softer and more orange-leaning than Marlboro Red, with less patterning — think of the flesh of a ripe cantaloupe rendered in fish form. Better specimens are consistent in color from center to margins with no significant paling at the edges. Like most red-toned discus, diet matters enormously for maintaining color intensity. Red Melons are widely available and relatively affordable, making them a popular starting point for hobbyists wanting a warm-colored discus.Yellow Diamondstrain of DiscusThe yellow counterpart to Blue Diamond: a fully solid, even canary-yellow to lemon-yellow disc with no visible pattern or bars. Clean, bright specimens have an almost luminous quality. Yellow Diamond is considerably rarer and harder to breed to consistent quality than Blue Diamond — many fish sold under this name are actually pale orange or have visible ghost barring. True high-grade specimens command premium prices. Look for depth and evenness of yellow across the entire body including the forehead area, which is often the last region to color up. A showstopper when done right.Ghoststrain of DiscusPale, washed-out, and intentionally so — Ghost discus are bred for a near-white to pale grey or very light blue body with faint, ghost-like patterning barely visible beneath. The effect is ethereal and unusual in the discus world, which skews heavily toward saturation. Some lines show extremely faint turquoise tracery; others are nearly monochrome. Because the coloration is so subtle, water quality and stress show up dramatically on this variety — a frightened Ghost turns blotchy almost immediately. They look best in calm, well-established tanks with dark substrate. An acquired taste but genuinely stunning in the right setup.Checkerboardstrain of DiscusA distinctive pattern of alternating light and dark patches creates a rough checkerboard or grid effect across the body. The contrast between the light cream-to-white areas and darker red-brown or blue patches is what defines this variety. It's a genuinely unusual look compared to the striped or solid discus that dominate the hobby. Pattern regularity and contrast are the selection criteria — fish with blurry, unresolved patches are poorly bred. This strain is less commonly seen than turquoise or solid varieties, which can make quality specimens harder to source. Worth tracking down if you want something visually distinct.Red Mapstrain of DiscusRich red base coloration overlaid with irregular, map-like patches or reticulated markings in a contrasting darker tone. The pattern looks like an aerial map or topographical chart — organic, asymmetrical, and complex. No two fish are patterned identically, which adds to the appeal for collectors. Deep red pigmentation in the base is essential; fish with orange-leaning or faded bases significantly underperform visually. The map pattern should have clear edges rather than smudged gradients. These are show-quality fish when bred well and are most impressive in a species tank where the patterning can be appreciated up close.