The snake skin red spotted discus (Symphysodon sp.) starts from the fine, dense snakeskin patterning and adds red spotting scattered over it, so the fish carries two layers of detail at once. Spot count and spread differ considerably between individuals, and both the spotting and the underlying striping usually sharpen as the fish matures. Discus are flattened cichlids from the warm, slow-moving waters of the Amazon basin. Aquarium care Tall tank with generous front-to-back depth. Warm water toward the upper end of the tropical range, held stable. Frequent partial water changes; discus show poor water quality quickly. Keep in a group of five or more. Discus granules, frozen bloodworm and beefheart preparations. Allow the aquarium to mature before introducing them. A fish for a keeper who likes fine detail and is willing to keep the tank in good order to see it. Suitable companions include cardinal tetras, rummy nose tetras and sterbai corydoras; leave out barbs, large plecos and anything that competes hard at feeding time. Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. Check the discus collection for current stock.