▷ Discus Cuipeua Royal | All information and details

Data sheet Discus Cuipeua Royal

Latin name:
Symphysodon aequifasciatus Pellegrin, 1904 «Cuipeua Royal»

Trade name:
Discus Cuipeua Royal

order name:
Cichliformes (Cichlids)

Family:

Cichlidae (Cichlidae)

Genus:

Symphysodon (discus fish)

Origin:
Lago Cuipéua (Amazon Basin), South America

Size (in cm:

14.0 to 15.0 (adult wild caught)

aquarium size

Length x width x height (in cm):
150x50x60

Content in litres:

450 liters

water values

Temperature:
26 to 30°C

pH:

5.0 to 6.5

GH:

3 to 9 °dGH

CH:

2 to 5 °dKH

behavior/stocking

Area:
Middle water zone

Lining:
Live, frozen and high-quality dry food (discus pellets)

Behave:
social group fish

Number:
Group size of at least eight specimens recommended

Life expectancy:

10 to 12 years

Socialization with shrimp:

No

Difficulty level:
advanced

H. Zell, Symphysodon aequifasciatus – Karlsruhe Zoo 02, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Discus Cuipeua Royal and its appearance

Due to their rarity, red discus cichlids belong to a special coloring variant of the genus Symphysodon. These reddish colored fish first became popular in the late 1960’s and attracted a lot of attention in the nascent discus fish enthusiast scene.

One of the more recent discoveries of a discus cichlid with a deep red basic coloration is in Lago Cuipéua. In addition to the fish known commercially as Discus Cuipeua Red, the Discus Cuipeua Royal also comes from this area.

Lago Cuipéua: The place where the Discus Cuipéua Royal was found

Lago Cuipéua is a smaller lake by Amazon basin standards, located west of the city of Alenquer in the Brazilian state of Pará.

The lake is connected to other bodies of water in the Alenquer region at high tide; of particular note is the connection with the Rio Curuá for possible access to other populations of discus cichlids.

The discus cichlids live in very large groups in the biotope, as do the other cichlids found here, such as e.g. B. sailfish and bottom feeders, as well as plecos and tetras. Catching a Cuipeua Royal discus is very rare.

gender differences

In general, sex differences in adult discus cichlids can only be recognized by the development of the sex papilla. In a direct comparison, the larger and bulkier fish in a group are milkers. Large areas of red colored wild caught are mostly Rogner.

offspring

preparations for breeding

Wild caught of the genus Symphysodon are most likely to be stimulated to reproduce in their natural habitat during the spawning season. In the natural biotope this is the case with the beginning of the rainy season in October.

The simulation of the rainy season succeeds through the combination of a varied and high-quality range of live food, frequent water change intervals and the maintenance of water parameters (temperature, conductivity, pH) that are adapted to the temporary conditions.

rearing

The rearing of juvenile discus cichlids (from about a total length of 5 cm) requires a great deal of effort once they are independent of the nutritional secretion of the parent animals. Feeding must be done at intervals of 2 hours.

Unused leftover feed must be vacuumed off each time. In addition, a daily water change in the rearing tank is necessary.

socialization

Armored catfish and hatchet tetras are particularly suitable as companion fish. A socialization with angelfish (competitors for food) or neons (prey animals) is not recommended.

In particular, because of the higher care requirements of wild-caught species, they should not be kept together with the cultivated forms.

Other questions

Cuipeuá or Curipera?

Originally, the Lago Cuipeuá was confused with a Lago Curipera in dealer communication for years. However, the latter does not exist in the Alenquer region, from which these discus cichlids originate.

The fish initially referred to as Discus Curipera Royal is therefore a Discus Cuipeua Royal. Offspring that are offered as «Diskus Cuipeua Royal» therefore always bear a misleading name.

Discus Cuipeua Royal as offspring?

Real offspring of wild catches from Lago Cuipéua, which correspond to a discus Cuipéua Royal, are rare. In addition, many of the fish offered as «Curipera Discus» are far from having the rich colors of a real Cuipeua Royal Discus.

Its juveniles can hardly be distinguished from those of a normal brown discus cichlid.