Red Alenquer Discus (Symphysodon spp.)

Red Alenquer Discus is a red-selected aquarium form sold under the Alenquer name within the Symphysodon discus group. Discus are warm-water South American cichlids known for their deep round body, social behaviour and demanding need for clean, stable water. The “Alenquer” trade wording describes the colour/locality tradition behind this stock; unless the supplier has explicitly confirmed wild provenance, it should not be read as a guarantee that the dispatched fish is wild-collected from Alenquer.

This listing has multiple supplied-size variants, ranging from juvenile size options through larger selections when available. Choose the live Shopify variant that suits your aquarium; the selected variant is the authority for supplied size, price and availability. Sex and a breeding pair are not guaranteed unless a variant explicitly states that.

What you are buying

• Trade name: Red Alenquer Discus
• Scientific identification: Symphysodon discus group; the listing has historically used Symphysodon aequifasciatus
• Origin of the species group: Amazonian South America
• Verified species-record size: FishBase records about 13.7 cm standard length for S. aequifasciatus; total visual length can be greater when fins are included
• Temperature: warm tropical water; roughly 28–30°C is a practical discus target
• Temperament: social cichlid with a clear hierarchy
• Diet: omnivorous/micro-predatory, with animal foods important in the natural diet
• Care level: moderate to advanced

Red Alenquer colour form

Red Alenquer discus are chosen for warm red, orange and brown-red body tones. Colour varies with genetics, age, diet, social status, lighting and stress. Newly transported fish can appear darker or less saturated than settled adults.

Use the gallery as a representative guide to the form rather than a promise of one exact pattern. Discus colour and body pattern can continue developing as the fish matures.

Aquarium size and social group

Discus are social, but they also form hierarchies. FishBase notes group keeping in aquaria, and a group of five or more is commonly used to distribute social pressure when keeping juveniles or unpaired adults. A proven compatible pair is a different situation and can be kept separately for breeding.

Our house planning starts around 250–300 litres for a small group, with a long aquarium and good body depth. Larger groups, large tank mates and adult specimens need more space. Do not choose the permanent aquarium around the smallest delivery variant; plan around the adult fish and the final group size.

Warm water and oxygen

FishBase records S. aequifasciatus from roughly 26–30°C. Most discus aquariums are maintained toward the warmer end, often around 28–30°C. Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen than cool water, so strong gas exchange and sensible stocking are essential.

Use a reliable heater system appropriate to the aquarium size, good surface movement and mature biological filtration. Avoid sudden temperature swings during water changes.

pH, hardness and water quality

FishBase records a broad acidic-to-near-neutral pH range and very soft to moderately soft water for the species record. In captivity, stability matters more than chasing an extreme wild-water number. A practical discus setup often sits around pH 5.5–6.8 with soft to moderately soft water, depending on the stock and source water.

Ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero. Nitrate should be kept low through appropriate feeding, stocking and water changes. Discus do not need sterile water, but they do poorly when dissolved waste is allowed to accumulate.

If RO water is used, remineralise it deliberately. Pure RO water without a mineral plan is not a complete aquarium environment.

Filtration and maintenance

Use filtration that provides high biological capacity without creating an exhausting current. External canister filters, large internal systems or sumps can all work when correctly sized and maintained.

Discus are often fed generously, so remove uneaten food and siphon waste before it decomposes. Water-change frequency should respond to measured nitrate, feeding intensity and stocking rather than one universal schedule.

Feeding

Offer a varied diet of high-quality discus pellets or granules supported by suitable frozen foods such as brine shrimp, mysis, daphnia and other clean aquatic/invertebrate foods. In the wild, discus take insect larvae, insects and planktonic invertebrates as part of their diet.

Feed enough to maintain a full, muscular body profile without leaving large amounts of food to decay. Young fish may need smaller, more frequent meals than adults. Avoid making fatty mammalian meat the routine staple.

Tank mates

Choose calm fish that tolerate sustained warm temperatures and will not outcompete or harass discus. Warm-water cardinal tetras and some peaceful characins can work in suitably sized aquariums, provided their temperature requirements genuinely overlap.

Avoid aggressive cichlids, persistent fin nippers, very fast feeders and species that need substantially cooler water. Bottom dwellers also need to tolerate discus temperatures; do not add a species simply because it is labelled a “community fish”.

Behaviour and hierarchy

Discus establish a pecking order. Short displays and chasing can be normal, but one fish being permanently dark, hiding, refusing food or being trapped away from the group is not something to ignore.

Use plants, wood or other visual barriers without turning the aquarium into a maze. The fish still need clear swimming room and easy access to food.

Breeding

Established pairs may clean a vertical surface and lay eggs, with both parents guarding the clutch. Discus fry are famous for feeding from specialised skin mucus produced by the parents. Breeding requires exceptionally stable water and should not be assumed simply because two fish are purchased together.

Acclimation and quarantine

Match temperature carefully and avoid abrupt changes in pH or dissolved mineral content. A quarantine period is strongly recommended before adding a new discus to an established group because treatment is far easier before a pathogen reaches a warm, heavily managed display aquarium.

Observe appetite, respiration, faeces, body colour and social behaviour during quarantine. Do not medicate prophylactically without a reason; stable clean water and observation are the starting points.

Before ordering

Choose Red Alenquer Discus if you can provide a mature, warm, clean aquarium with enough space for appropriate social housing and a maintenance routine suited to discus. Reconsider if the tank is newly cycled, runs cool, contains aggressive fish or relies on infrequent maintenance.

Use the live variant selector for the current supplied size, price and stock. Size options can change over time, so the variant selector—not a fixed value buried in the description—is the commercial source of truth.