Pigeon Blood Discus
Symphysodon aequifasciatus
About this strain
Bold 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.
Origin
Credited to Thai breeder Kitti Phanaitthi in the early 1990s, who introduced what became known as the 'pigeon blood' mutation into the Southeast Asian discus trade. The strain spread globally through Bangkok's export market.