Discus vs Electric Eel

Symphysodon discus comparé à Electrophorus electricus

Taxonomy & Classification

Attribut	Discus	Electric Eel
Nom scientifique	Symphysodon discus	Electrophorus electricus
Ordre	Cichliformes	Gymnotiformes
Famille	Cichlidae	Gymnotidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Attribut	Discus	Electric Eel
Longueur maximale	20,0 cm	250,0 cm
Poids maximum	0,25 kg	20,0 kg
Couleur	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.	Dark olive-gray to grayish-brown cylinder-shaped body with a pale yellowish-orange throat and chin; back uniformly dark; scaleless skin has a smooth appearance; long ribbon-like anal fin is pinkish.

Habitat & Environment

Attribut	Discus	Electric Eel
Type d'eau	Freshwater	Freshwater
Plage de profondeur	—	—
Aire de répartition	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 …	Native to the Orinoco and Amazon river basins in Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil. Inhabits murky, oxygen-depleted floodplain pools, swamps, and slow-moving streams in lowland …
Habitat	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. …	Estuaries

Aquarium Suitability

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

Cuisine & Edibility

Discus

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

Electric Eel

Not consumed — an ornamental and scientific novelty species kept in specialized aquarium exhibits; edible in principle but extremely dangerous to handle due to powerful electric discharge.

Species Overview

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.

Electric Eel

Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel but a knifefish. It can generate electrical discharges of up to 860 volts to stun prey and defend itself. About 80% of its body is dedicated to three electric organs.