Blue-Faced Heckel Alenquer Cross Discus

Blue-Faced Heckel Alenquer Cross Discus

$67.00$190.00

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$67.00$190.00

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Back in the day we’d drive out to the country and visit the antique car shows. Bygone eras vibrantly evident in all the automobiles’ bright painted colors, their vivid reds and blues, commanding our gazes. Now, gazing at the Blue-faced Heckel Alenquer Cross discus, my mind races back to those days of mesmerizing colors. This fish has that same bright metallic red which brings me back to my youth when I attended those car shows.

Seeing this fish’s colors reminds me of an old 1958 Chrysler Imperial convertible I saw one weekend with my best girl. I mean that car was in mint condition right down to its last nut and bolt. Wow! This fish and its bright red brings me back… I can see us driving it… her red hair flowing in the wind… autumn starting to take hold with its vibrant hues. The discus darts and we dart…down country roadways littered with red maple leaves. I can even hear the music… “Let’s Do the Twist”… yeah, Chubby Checker… it was all great.

It’s amazing how a single beautiful fish can open up so many windows of perception. I want one in my tank at home, so I can always be reminded of the Good Ol’ Days, when things weren’t so complicated.

By Robert Gluck

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SKU: blue-faced-heckel-alenquer-cross-discus Categories: , , , ,

1 review for Blue-Faced Heckel Alenquer Cross Discus

    Blue-Faced Heckel Alenquer Cross Discus photo review
    Glenn G., Plainview, TX (Verified Customer) July 28, 2021
    August 1, 2021
    Show tank ready
    Thank you for the excellent customer service and as always amazing fish. What a beauty. I love the cross heckel strains you carry.

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Every fish we sell bears our gold seal that represents the Discus.com promise to our customers. When you make a purchase with us, you are entrusting our team with shipping you a collector grade specimen of unparalleled quality, beauty, size, and heft based on our judgement accrued over 25 years of experience. We guarantee the fish you receive will match the exact fish represented in our product photos. We are the gold standard of discus. Note: our discus are always measured from tip of nose to end of tail.

 

Category Rating
Care Level: Moderate, see our Learning Center for comprehensive care.
Temperament: Peaceful
Color Form: Huge variety available
Lifespan: 15-25 Years
Adult Size: 8-12 inches
Diet: Omnivorous
Family: Cichlidae
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons
Tank Set-Up: Bare-bottom, or Intermediate
Compatibility: Often compatible



Natural Habitat for Discus

Discus are found in floodplain lakes and flooded forests of the lowland Amazon River basin and some of its tributaries, including the Rio Negro.  These areas experience extreme changes in water level due to seasonal flooding.  Discus tend to congregate near fallen trees, known as “galhadas”, along the shore.  They prefer quiet water, and are rarely found in areas where there is strong current or wave action.

Discus Water Requirements

Discus prefer warm, soft, acidic water.  pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0, with hardness between 1° and 4° dKH (18 to 70 ppm).  Temperature should be kept between 82° and 89° F. Water conditions for both wild and hybrid discus are the same. While captive bred discus can be kept in dechlorinated tap water  reverse osmosis or deionized water supplemented will ensure the the best conditions. Discus require pristine water quality, and depending on the filtration system being used, a weekly or bi-weekly water change of 10% to 25% is highly recommended. Don’t forget to treat tap water with conditioner before refilling your aquarium!  

Housing Requirements for Discus

Discus grow to be quite large, and full sized discus will require an aquarium of 50 gallons or larger when they reach adult size.  Tall aquariums are best, to accommodate their body shape.  Current should be gentle, and décor if used at all should include large broadleaf plants and driftwood that is arranged vertically to simulate downed branches and trees.  A few floating plants can also be added to provide shaded areas and cover. Substrate should be fine to medium grade and smooth surfaced, as discus like to forage along the bottom for food.

Discus Behavior/Compatibility

Discus are generally calm, peaceful fish, but as cichlids they can be aggressive toward one another, especially when attempting to pair off and spawn.  Shy or submissive fish should be removed if they are unable to compete. Most serious hobbyists do not mix their discus with too many other species. However, suitable aquarium mates include cardinal tetras, neons, emperor and rummy nose tetras, as well as clown loaches and dwarf cichlids such as rams and Apistogramma species. All of these fish tolerate the high temperatures and low pH/hardness required by discus.  

What do Discus Eat?

In nature discus eat a considerable amount of plant material and detritus, but also forage along the bottom looking for worms and small crustaceans.  They are omnivores and will thrive on freeze dried black worms, beefheart, frozen blood worms, and a variety of pellet and flake food. Frozen and live foods may be fed as treats or to help induce spawning.  For best results, rotate their diet daily and feed only what they can consume in 2 to 3 minutes, once or twice a day.

Discus Breeding Level – Difficult

Captive bred discus will pair up and spawn relatively easily, but young, inexperienced parents may eat their eggs the first few times, particularly if other fish are present.  After hatching the young feed on heavy body mucus secreted by the parents for a few days until they begin to free-swim.  Parents will transfer the young back and forth several times a day.

Q: How are your stated fish measurements conducted?

A: All measurements are made from tip of nose to end of tail. Photographs are representative of the strain or variety, and not the exact specimens that will be shipped.

Q: How do I make a purchase?

A: Every discus you see on our website is available for immediate purchase and ready to be shipped to you. Click the “Add to Cart” button on your desired products, adjust your quantities, and follow the checkout instructions. We honor all special requests. Please allow a 2-day minimum handling period for discus.

Shipping Tiers for Live Tropical Fish: 

  • Discus/Altum orders over $600: choice of a free gift of a breeding cone or t-shirt. Use the promo code BONUS-CONE after adding your selection to your cart.

Blackworms: Free USPS Postal Shipping

Plants: $10 FedEx Priority Shipping, Minimum Order: $15

International Buyers Please Note: Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to purchasing.

 

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