Pirarucu vs Discus

Arapaima gigas comparé à Symphysodon discus

Taxonomy & Classification

Attribut	Pirarucu	Discus
Nom scientifique	Arapaima gigas	Symphysodon discus
Ordre	Osteoglossiformes	Cichliformes
Famille	Arapaimidae	Cichlidae
Conservation Status	Data Deficient	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Attribut	Pirarucu	Discus
Longueur maximale	450,0 cm	20,0 cm
Poids maximum	200,0 kg	0,25 kg
Couleur	Dark olive-gray to grayish-black back with large scales that become vivid red-orange with black borders on the posterior flanks; belly pale cream; caudal fin reddish and rounded.	Deep-bodied disc shape with vibrant turquoise-blue wavy horizontal lines over a reddish-brown to orange-brown base; fins edged in vivid blue with red striping; wild forms show 9 dark vertical bars.

Habitat & Environment

Attribut	Pirarucu	Discus
Type d'eau	Freshwater	Freshwater
Plage de profondeur	—	—
Aire de répartition	Restricted to the Amazon River basin in Brazil, Peru, Guyana, and Bolivia. Inhabits flooded várzea lakes, oxbows, and large river channels; surfaces frequently to breathe …	Restricted to the central Amazon River basin in Brazil, particularly around the confluence of the Rio Negro and Rio Solimões. Prefers warm, soft, highly acidic …
Habitat	Floodplain lakes (várzea) and large river channels of the Amazon basin. Slow-moving, shallow, warm freshwater (26-30°C). An obligate air-breather; rises to surface to gulp air. …	Warm, blackwater rivers of the Amazon basin, particularly the Rio Negro and tributaries. Prefers soft, acidic water (pH 4.5-6.5, 26-31°C) with driftwood and minimal current. …

Aquarium Suitability

Attribut	Pirarucu	Discus
Taille minimale de l'aquarium	—	250 L
Température	—	26-30
Plage de pH	—	5.0-7.0
Niveau d'entretien	—	Difficult
Tempérament	—	Peaceful

Informations sur la pêche

Attribut	Pirarucu	Discus
Poisson de pêche sportive	Oui	Non
Cote de combativité	10/10	—
Record du monde	—	—
Teneur en mercure	—	—

Cuisine & Edibility

Pirarucu

Large, firm white fillets with a mild, clean flavor and low fat; historically a staple protein in Amazonian communities. Often salted and dried; sustainable harvest is tightly regulated.

Discus

Not consumed — a prized ornamental aquarium fish known as the 'king of the aquarium' for its disc-shaped body and brilliant colors.

Species Overview

Pirarucu

The arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, reaching up to 4.5 meters. An obligate air-breather, it must surface every 10-20 minutes to gulp air. Its tongue is bony and used to crush prey against the roof of its mouth.

Discus

The discus is often called the 'King of the Aquarium' for its disc-shaped body and stunning color patterns. Native to the Amazon floodplains, it requires warm, soft, acidic water and feeds its fry with a mucus secretion from its skin.