Super Red Melon Discus (Symphysodon spp.)

Super Red Melon Discus is a captive-bred Symphysodon colour strain selected for a broad red to red-orange body and the tall, rounded profile associated with discus fish. It is an impressive centrepiece for an experienced keeper, but colour is only one part of the decision. A mature filter, consistently warm water, a properly sized social group and enough time to observe every fish at feeding are essential.

This product combines several live size options. Select the size shown in the live menu, then choose the quantity required. Each quantity is one unsexed fish. A two- or four-fish quantity choice is not a sexed pair, an established breeding pair or a guarantee that the fish will pair later. The images show the intended strain and colour direction; they do not show the exact individual that will be packed.

Super Red Melon Discus at a glance

Evidence-led planning facts for this domestic discus strain

Care point	Practical guidance
Trade identity	Super Red Melon, a captive-bred domestic Symphysodon colour strain
Scientific identity	Symphysodon spp.; the trade record does not establish a single wild species or breeder lineage
Care level	Expert; best for a keeper already confident with mature filtration, testing and stable warm water
Adult size allowance	Plan for a fish reaching up to about 20 cm across, even when buying a smaller juvenile
Social requirement	A compatible group of at least five discus; more can be better when aquarium capacity allows
Adult aquarium plan	Approximately 300 litres or larger for a group of six adults, with open swimming room and suitable floor area
Temperature	26-30°C, held steady
pH	6.0-7.0 as a conservative routine range for this stock
General hardness	About 4-10 dGH, with gradual adjustment and stability more important than chasing one exact number
Water quality	Ammonia 0 mg/l, nitrite 0 mg/l and nitrate below 20 mg/l
Diet	Complete discus granules or pellets, supported by suitable frozen or live foods in measured portions
Sale unit	One unsexed fish per selected quantity; no pair or sex guarantee

Choose the live size, then plan for the adult group

The size selector is the current source for availability and price. Discus are living animals, so each commercial band is approximate and normal variation can occur. Parenthesised measurements in a supplier band are part of that trade label; they are not a promise of an exact millimetre measurement, age, sex, maturity or final body shape.

A smaller juvenile has more growing to do and may need more frequent, carefully distributed meals. A larger juvenile or subadult has greater immediate presence, but size alone does not prove sex, social rank or breeding readiness. Whichever band is selected, the permanent aquarium must be planned around the adult group rather than the shipping size.

How to interpret the size menu

Choice	Useful planning point	Not guaranteed
Smaller juvenile	More growth ahead; make sure it can feed confidently within the intended group	Sex, a smaller permanent tank or exact adult colour
Larger juvenile	More developed body size; introduce carefully where a hierarchy already exists	Pair status, maturity or dominant rank
Large or selection band	A supplier size category shown in the live menu	Show grade, named breeder, pedigree or a particular individual
Quantity of two or four	Two or four unsexed fish bought together	A male/female pair, two pairs or established breeding compatibility

Use the tank volume calculator to estimate usable capacity from internal dimensions. If you are adding to an established group, compare body size, feeding confidence, quarantine history and the behaviour of the resident fish, not just the number printed beside the option.

Identity: Super Red Melon is a domestic strain name

The most defensible scientific label for this listing is Symphysodon spp. (domestic Super Red Melon strain). The current supplier group identifies all ten connected size variants as Super Red Melon, but it does not provide a wild locality, pedigree, breeder name or genetic record. Assigning the stock confidently to one wild species would therefore claim more than the evidence supports.

Discus taxonomy has a long history of competing classifications. University of Florida IFAS explains that species-level classification remains disputed and uses Symphysodon spp. for practical aquaculture. Molecular research likewise describes a genus undergoing diversification with complicated relationships among named forms. A domestic colour name describes a selected appearance; it is not a separate Latin species.

Super Red Melon and Red Valentine are treated as separate trade strains in the current supplier catalogue. This product is the Super Red Melon group. Shoppers specifically looking for the other strain can compare the separate Red Valentine Discus listing. Keeping those identities distinct prevents a legacy stock name from becoming an unsupported synonym.

Colour, body form and the four gallery images

The four retained gallery images are representative illustrations. They show a vivid red to red-orange discus with a pale face, rounded body and blue accents along parts of the dorsal and anal fins. The first is a single-fish planted aquarium scene, the second shows two fish, the third is a clean side profile on blue and the fourth shows one fish beside a broad leaf.

They are useful for understanding the intended strain direction and general discus profile, but they are not photographs of the exact fish supplied. Real juveniles can differ in red coverage, facial tone, eye colour, fin edging, body depth and the visibility of stress bars. Colour can continue to develop with age and is affected by genetics, diet, health, water quality, background, lighting and momentary stress.

• Two fish in an image do not mean that one quantity includes two fish.
• A multi-fish order is not automatically a pair and is not sold as sexed.
• Digital brightness is not a promise that a living fish will look identical under different lighting.
• The images do not establish age, breeder, pedigree, show grade or wild origin.

Adult aquarium size and social group

A juvenile discus should not be matched to a temporary juvenile tank. OATA advises that adults can reach about 20 cm across, should be kept in groups of at least five and need roughly 50 litres per adult as a general planning rule. Its example is an aquarium of approximately 300 litres for six adults. More water volume usually improves temperature and water-quality stability, but litres alone do not guarantee enough swimming space or social separation.

Provide open midwater room, sheltered areas and enough distance for a lower-ranking fish to move away from pressure. A very tall aquarium can hold many litres while offering limited horizontal space. Substrate, wood, plants and equipment also reduce usable water volume, so calculate the real capacity and leave a margin for companions.

Long-term space planning

Situation	Recommendation
New discus group	Plan for at least five compatible fish and an adult aquarium around 300 litres or larger
Six adults	Approximately 300 litres is OATA's example; more room gives additional stability and flexibility
Group with tank mates	Increase capacity beyond the discus-only baseline and assess every companion individually
One newcomer	The mature aquarium must have room within the full social group, not merely spare litres today
Established breeding pair	A specialist exception for fish already known to be paired; two random unsexed fish are not an established pair

Social behaviour: peaceful does not mean simple

Discus are relatively peaceful cichlids, but they form a hierarchy. A stronger individual can repeatedly displace another from food or a preferred area without dramatic fighting. OATA warns that fish kept singly or in undersized groups may become stressed or bullied. A compatible group spreads interaction more effectively than keeping one fish alone or placing two unrelated fish together and hoping that they pair.

Watch access to food as closely as chasing. A subordinate fish may hang back, darken, clamp its fins or slowly lose condition while the rest of the aquarium appears calm. Multiple feeding points, open swimming room, broken sight lines and reasonably matched body sizes can help. If one fish is repeatedly excluded, investigate water quality, health, aquarium capacity and group structure.

Sex is difficult to determine reliably outside breeding condition. This listing supplies unsexed fish and makes no male, female or pair promise. A true established pair is identified through sustained compatible behaviour and breeding evidence, not simply because two fish were bought together.

Water parameters for this captive-bred stock

The current supplier records 26-30°C, pH 5.0-7.0 and 0-10 dGH. OATA's domestic discus guidance gives 26-30°C, pH 6.0-7.5 and 4-12 dGH. This page uses the conservative routine overlap: 26-30°C, pH 6.0-7.0 and about 4-10 dGH. The aim is a stable, mature aquarium, not abrupt chemical correction to an exact target.

Routine water targets and action boundaries

Parameter	Routine target	Practical boundary
Temperature	26-30°C	Use a reliable heater and thermometer; avoid rapid heating or cooling
pH	6.0-7.0	Keep stable and change only through a controlled, understood method
General hardness	4-10 dGH	Measure source and aquarium water before altering mineral content
Ammonia	0 mg/l	Any detectable reading requires immediate investigation and protective action
Nitrite	0 mg/l	Any detectable reading is unsafe
Nitrate	Below 20 mg/l	Review feeding, stocking and maintenance if it rises

Test the proposed aquarium before ordering and continue at least weekly. OATA strongly recommends a weekly partial water change of about 50% for discus, adjusted sensibly to measured load and replacement-water chemistry. Match temperature and treat chlorine or chloramine before new water enters the aquarium. If reverse-osmosis water is used, learn the complete remineralisation process first; untreated RO water and improvised pH chemicals can create dangerous instability. The water parameter matcher can help compare readings, but it cannot replace calibrated tests and gradual changes.

Filtration, oxygen and aquarium layout

The aquarium should be biologically mature before these fish arrive. Use generous biological filtration for the adult group and distribute the return so the fish are not forced to fight a concentrated jet. Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen than cooler water, so maintain surface movement and even circulation without turning the display into a high-flow river tank.

Useful layout choices for a discus aquarium

Element	Useful approach	Avoid
Biological filter	Mature, generously sized media with a repeatable cleaning routine	Adding discus to a new or incompletely cycled aquarium
Water movement	Even circulation, good gas exchange and a softened outlet	A hard jet or warm stagnant areas
Substrate	Fine sand, fine gravel or another surface that can be cleaned thoroughly	Deep waste-trapping pockets beneath feeding areas
Decor	Smooth wood, stable cover, broken sight lines and open swimming space	Sharp edges, unstable stone and narrow traps
Lighting	A predictable day/night cycle with shaded retreats	Sudden intense light without cover
Observation	Clear sight of every fish during feeding and routine checks	A layout so dense that bullying or illness remains hidden

Planted aquariums and display design

A planted display can work when the plants are selected for the fish's temperature. Leave a broad open area for group movement and use planting or smooth wood to provide shade and visual separation. Dense growth must not prevent cleaning or hide a fish that is losing condition.

This is a domestic strain without a documented collection locality, so an Amazon-style layout is a husbandry choice rather than a claim that the fish came from one exact habitat. Choose warm-tolerant plants, keep gas exchange adequate and prioritise fish stability over maximum plant growth. Carbon-dioxide systems, fertilisers and medications add complexity and should be monitored carefully.

Feeding and body condition

Use a complete, appropriately sized discus granule or pellet as the nutritional base. OATA describes discus as generally carnivorous and recommends specialised dry food for vitamin coverage, supported by suitable frozen or live foods. University of Florida IFAS also describes a protein-rich diet. Frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis and clean discus mixes can add variety, but no single treat should become the whole diet.

Offer small measured portions and confirm that every fish eats. Juveniles may benefit from several smaller feeds, while adults still need portion control. Remove leftovers before they decay. Rich food combined with warm water can quickly increase waste, so feeding and water maintenance must be planned together.

Feeding checks that matter

Check	What to look for
Staple food	A complete discus pellet or granule accepted by every fish
Variety	Suitable frozen or live foods rotated in clean, controlled portions
Distribution	More than one feeding point where hierarchy prevents equal access
Body condition	A full but not swollen belly, steady growth and no individual becoming pinched
After feeding	Remove uneaten food and investigate repeated refusal immediately

Tank mates and compatibility

Choose companions only after meeting the discus requirements. OATA lists medium-sized tetras, Corydoras, plecos and dwarf cichlids as possible groups, but every candidate still needs individual checking for temperature, temperament, adult size, feeding speed and disease risk. Warm-tolerant Cardinal Tetras or Rummy-nose Tetras can work in suitable systems; the species and stock must be comfortable at the chosen temperature.

Compatibility screening

Usually worth considering	Use caution	Avoid
Compatible discus of similar size, suitable medium tetras, warm-tolerant Corydoras, appropriate Otocinclus or a carefully chosen small pleco	Fast feeders, territorial dwarf cichlids, very small newcomers and large suckermouth catfish	Fin nippers, aggressive cichlids, predators, boisterous feeders, coldwater fish and hard-water specialists

Compatibility is not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and observe breathing, appetite, body condition and social access. Use the tank mate checker as a screening aid, then verify the full care needs of every species.

Quarantine, acclimation and the first week

Prepare a mature quarantine aquarium wherever possible. It should be heated, filtered and large enough for observation without creating another source of instability. Do not share wet nets, hoses or buckets between systems unless they have been cleaned and managed for biosecurity.

On delivery, follow the instructions supplied with the order and use the acclimation timer as a prompt rather than improvising. OATA recommends a gentler acclimation process for discus because rapid changes in temperature and chemistry are stressful. Keep lights low, prevent the container from cooling and never pour transport water into the aquarium.

First-week observation plan

Time	Priority
Before arrival	Confirm temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, heater operation and filter flow
Arrival day	Receive the parcel promptly, document opening, acclimate carefully and keep lighting subdued
First 24 hours	Observe breathing, balance and social pressure; avoid repeated disturbance
Days 2-7	Confirm that each fish feeds and holds condition; test water more often after the added bioload
Before mixing groups	Complete the planned quarantine and assess compatibility rather than rushing introduction

Health signs and maintenance rhythm

Healthy discus should have clear eyes, intact fins, steady breathing, balanced swimming and enough confidence to feed. Warning signs include darkening, clamped fins, rapid breathing, isolation, erratic swimming, a pinched body or repeated refusal of food. These signs are not a diagnosis. Test water and equipment first, isolate when appropriate and seek qualified aquatic-veterinary advice when a health problem is suspected.

Repeatable husbandry schedule

Frequency	Tasks
Daily	Check temperature, equipment, breathing, appetite, fins, body condition and social access
At feeding	Watch every fish eat and remove leftovers
Weekly or more often	Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and hardness; record results and trends
Water change	OATA recommends about 50% weekly for discus; match and condition replacement water carefully
Filter service	Preserve beneficial bacteria, clear blockages and avoid rinsing biological media under chlorinated tap water

Delivery, guarantee and ordering checks

Live fish are dispatched by a licensed live-animal courier when conditions are suitable. The delivery page explains current delivery days, packing and the requirement for someone to receive the parcel. The Live Arrival Guarantee terms explain same-day reporting and the evidence that helps a claim move quickly.

• Confirm the aquarium is cycled, warm, stable and large enough for the adult group before ordering.
• Choose the current size in the live selector; descriptive text does not override live stock or price.
• One quantity buys one unsexed fish. Multi-fish quantities are not sexed or proven pairs.
• Arrange for someone to receive the parcel and have testing and acclimation equipment ready.
• Keep the parcel-opening evidence required by the current guarantee terms.

Compare the current discus range

Browse the Discus collection or read the full Discus care guide before choosing a strain. The Red Melon Discus is the closest colour-family comparison. The separate Red Valentine Discus should be used when that specific trade strain is wanted. Other live comparisons include Turquoise Checkerboard Discus, White Diamant Discus and Blue Heckel Discus.

Choose by verified identity, current size, care compatibility and the aquarium you can maintain, not by colour alone. Contact us before ordering if the proposed group, water chemistry or size match is uncertain.

Evidence used for this care profile

• Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association: How to look after discus - UK industry care guidance reviewed by veterinary professionals.
• University of Florida IFAS: Candidate Species for Florida Aquaculture - Discus - taxonomy, domestication, body size and feeding evidence.
• Farias and Hrbek (2008): Patterns of diversification in the discus fishes - peer-reviewed context for the genus's disputed species-level classification.