Heckel Discus

Looks how to spot one

scales

The Heckel Discus has a round, disc-shaped body that is taller than it is long. Its base colour is red with turquoise veins running across the body and fins. The most distinctive feature is a thick, dark vertical bar that runs down the centre of the body, known as the fifth bar. The caudal and pectoral fins are transparent.64

Personality what they are like

Heckel Discus are peaceful and calm cichlids, but they can be timid, especially at feeding time. They are not aggressive but may become territorial during spawning. They do best with other calm tankmates that can tolerate warm, soft, acidic water.54

Daily activity how busy a day looks

They are moderately active, spending most of their time in the middle of the water column. They need a tall tank with plenty of open swimming space and shady areas provided by driftwood and floating plants.74

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Heckel Discus are considered very difficult to keep, even for experienced aquarists. They require very clean, soft, acidic water with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5, very low hardness, and warm temperatures of 28-31°C. Frequent large water changes are essential to keep nitrates near zero. They are sensitive to changes in water conditions and pollutants.546

Home where they are happiest

In the wild, Heckel Discus live in blackwater habitats with very dark, tea-coloured water, pH below 5.0, and conductivity below 10 µS/cm. In the aquarium, they need a tall tank of at least 284 litres (75 gallons) with fine white sand substrate, plenty of driftwood, and some floating plants to create shade. They do not need bright lighting or dense vegetation.748

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Heckel Discus are omnivores. In the wild they eat worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. In captivity they should be fed a varied diet of frozen bloodworms, beef heart mixes, high-quality pellets, and live foods such as Daphnia and brine shrimp. Several small meals a day are recommended.346

Company who they like around

Heckel Discus are shoaling fish that should be kept in groups of at least six individuals to spread out any squabbling and help them feel secure. They are mostly peaceful but can be timid, so they should not be housed with boisterous or aggressive tankmates. Suitable companions include other calm, heat-tolerant fish. They are not known to be venomous or illegal to keep, but they are wild-caught and require expert care.45

The story where it all began

The Heckel Discus was first described scientifically in 1840 by Heckel, after whom it is named. It is one of the oldest known wild discus varieties and has been kept in aquariums for many decades. In the early days of the hobby, all discus were wild-caught and considered extremely difficult to keep. Today, most discus in the trade are captive-bred and more hardy, but the Heckel Discus is still predominantly wild-caught and retains its reputation as the most demanding discus species. It is found only in extremely acidic blackwater habitats in a few river systems in Brazil.754