Discus fish of both wild and domestic origin are in great demand by freshwater aquarium enthusiasts and command high prices worldwide. (edis.ifas.ufl.edu)
The peaceful behavior, body shape, posture, and stance of the fish, along with its appealing colors and pattern markings (often associated with royalty) have earned it the reputation of “King of Aquarium Fishes.” Discus fish are very laterally compressed and have disc-shaped bodies. (edis.ifas.ufl.edu)
Conveniently, genetic variants or strains in discus fish generally inherit changes in body base color and pattern markings, and hobbyists worldwide are continuously creating new varieties of discus and introducing them to the market place. (edis.ifas.ufl.edu)
Discus fish usually require higher temperatures for their maintenance (28–30°C) than much other tropical fish. (edis.ifas.ufl.edu)
Contrary to popular belief, discus fish can be grown and mature in neutral and buffered waters. (edis.ifas.ufl.edu)