Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus

Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus

$216.00$300.00

In stock

$216.00$300.00

The Next UPS Overnight Shipping Window Unlocks In:
The Current UPS Overnight Shipping Window Closes In:

To watch the Royal Blue Ica Discus swim through light is to watch it transform. Its blue stripes whiten, and dull shades of gold become bright oranges and yellows. Strangely reminiscent of night becoming dawn, its changing colors remind me of an evening when I watched that shift take place.

It was early spring and, on the cusp of a great change in our lives, my friends and I went star gazing at a local harbor. The black bars running down the side of the Royal Blue Discus become the tall poles of the boat docks. Its rippled stripes are clouds streaking past the moon and, hours later, the sun. I am carried back through time.

Huddled together in the cold, blankets wrapped around our shoulders, we spoke until the moonlight on the water became sunshine on the shore, and we made promises that we soon forgot. What we haven’t forgotten, is staying awake to watch one phase of our life bleed into another and, when that phase arrived, feeling unchanged.

How clearly the cyclical nature of night and day is echoed in earth’s creatures. The Royal Blue Ica Discus passes in and out of the light, stripes glowing blue over its muted colors, stripes glowing white over bright oranges and yellows. In all of us, there is day and night. There are promises we keep and promises we break. There are periods of sadness and periods of joy. But we are still one person, carrying our pasts inside of us, not destroying our old selves but bringing them along.

The Royal Blue Ica Discus is the perfect embodiment of that idea. Or maybe it’s just a fish, and maybe that night was regular and unimportant, just like any other. But isn’t it nice to believe we can all be two things at once?

Clear

SKU: wild-caught-royal-blue-ica-discus Categories: , , ,

4 reviews for Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus

    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    +1
    Norman H., Monterey Park, CA (Verified Customer) March 19, 2024
    March 22, 2024
    Dear seller, my fish is in excellent condition.  Never better. MY TANK IS A SMALL 65 GALLON ROUND TANK IN THE FRONT.  CURRENTLY TOTAL 4 WILD DISCUS IN...More
    Dear seller, my fish is in excellent condition.  Never better. MY TANK IS A SMALL 65 GALLON ROUND TANK IN THE FRONT.  CURRENTLY TOTAL 4 WILD DISCUS INCLUDING THE TWO I HAVE JUST PURCHASED.
    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    Theodore H., Chicago, IL (Verified Customer) April 7, 2021
    October 3, 2021
    6 month update!
    I love the fish they are so personable like little dogs. I do plan on getting more in the future. Like more of the wilds and maybe one eruption they h...More

    I love the fish they are so personable like little dogs. I do plan on getting more in the future. Like more of the wilds and maybe one eruption they have a beautiful look.

    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    +2
    Theodore H., Chicago, IL (Verified Customer) April 7, 2021
    May 3, 2021

    Hey Michael, here are some new pictures of them they are doing really good swimming, eat, and even following me around.

    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    Wild-Caught Royal Blue Ica Discus photo review
    +2
    Theodore H., Chicago, IL (Verified Customer) April 7, 2021
    April 12, 2021
    I just turned the lights on for the first time after 4 hrs i might keep them off. The one behind the drift looks like a scab is forming on it. Form lo...More

    I just turned the lights on for the first time after 4 hrs i might keep them off. The one behind the drift looks like a scab is forming on it. Form lose of slim coat. To what can i do for that. The ica are have a little trouble still too.



    They are super pretty and they are already watching move around. They very course about what going on and I love the look of them all together it just so smooth. I am super happy with them all too.


Add a review

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.

 

Ask a question about this product: