Wild Santarem Green Discus

The Wild Santarém Green Discus is collected from the Santarém area of the lower Amazon — a historically important collecting locality that has supplied the hobby with some of its finest wild green discus specimens. Santarém fish are characterised by a vivid gold-to-grass-green body, strong red eye colouration, and particularly clean, well-defined blue dorsal striping.

Santarém locality fish are found in the meeting zone of clear and whitewater Amazon tributaries, which means they are slightly more tolerant of harder water than pure blackwater Heckel discus — though still requiring soft, warm, acidic conditions for long-term health.

For the hobbyist seeking a wild discus with striking colouration and a slightly more tractable temperament than pure Heckel fish, Santarém Greens are an outstanding choice.

Water: 27-30°C, pH 5.5-7.0, soft (0-6 dGH), KH 0-3; moderate tannin levels beneficial. Tank: Minimum 300 L, Amazon biotope style, warm subdued lighting, driftwood and leaf litter. Feeding: Frozen bloodworm, beefheart, artemia, quality carnivore pellets; varied diet essential for colour. Breeding: Open spawner; broad leaf or driftwood surface; biparental care; soften water for best results. Compatibility: Wild discus groups or with small peaceful Amazonian species; avoid hard-water fish.