the book - Wild Discus Today writing by Vitor Hugo Quaresma

A dream realized: "Wild Discus Today," by Vitor Hugo Quaresma.

More than just the launch of a book, this book represents the celebration of 20 years of life in the heart of the Amazon. It is the culmination of two decades of dedication, expeditions, and direct experience with the communities and ecosystems of wild discus, condensed into an absolute reference work for the world of aquariums.

Available in Portuguese, English, and German.

"Dreams aren't built overnight—they're built with years of dedication, passion, and commitment. 'Wild Discus Today' is finally a reality. It reflects 20 years of life in the Amazon, learning from the rivers, and an incessant pursuit of excellence. To all who have accompanied this journey and share this passion, my sincere thanks. The dream is delivered to the world!"

Eight years of work went into producing the most up-to-date book on wild Discus. This is not just another book filled with hundreds of color photos of fish, like so many others on the market. WILD DISCUS TODAY is an extraordinary work, created through the collaboration of three passionate visionaries:

Frank Bodenmüller: The successful German breeder and wild Discus enthusiast, responsible for the book's elegant, world-class design.

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   João Sousa Palmeiro: One of Portugal's most renowned photographers of all time. Having accompanied Vitor Hugo Quaresma on three deep expeditions through the Amazon, he captured an unparalleled series of black and white photographs, showcasing local communities, fishermen, and the wild beauty of the Amazon. His world-class art plays a fundamental role in the identity of this book.

   
   

   Vitor Hugo Quaresma: Two decades of hands-on experience living in the Amazon, identifying new phenotypes, studying wildlife biology in the field, and selecting the best wild Discus for aquarists worldwide.

   
   

   A masterpiece that combines scientific discoveries, human emotions, and artistic photography in a landmark publication.

Why this achievement is remarkable:

Living History: It's not just theory; it's the testimony of someone who was on the ground, discovered new locations, and mapped unique specimens.

Legacy for the Hobby: Work that elevates the status of wild discus, combining science, breeding practices, and respect for the ecosystem.

Authority Brand: The definitive consolidation of the Vitor Hugo Quaresma name and Santarem Discus at the top of international aquarism.

Why this presentation highlights the book:

Clear differentiation: The critique of "print books" (only repetitive photos without content) positions his work as something of high intellectual and artistic value.

Team recognition: Giving due prominence to João Sousa Palmeiro's black and white photography transforms the book into a work of art and a collector's item, not just a simple commercial catalog.

Internationalization: The Portuguese-German partnership with Frank Bodenmüller gives it enormous editorial weight in Europe and the world.

For many years, the dream of publishing a book fueled my desire to leave a lasting legacy from my two decades of work in the Amazon. I wanted future generations of amateur and enthusiastic Wild Discus breeders to have access to the knowledge I acquired firsthand alongside dozens of riverside communities.

The opportunity finally seemed to arise when a veteran publisher, with dozens of published books, invited me to write it. I accepted without hesitation, and together we began to structure and plan the entire work.

For years, I worked day and night to condense two decades of experience in the wild Amazon into a concise, practical, and authentic narrative. However, as time passed, and despite all the updated text and photographs being completely ready, the book was incessantly postponed and stubbornly remained unpublished.

Prepare the Turning Point: This phase of "waiting and frustration" with the original publisher is the perfect hook to explain how, later, when you joined Frank Bodenmüller and João Sousa Palmeiro, you took the reins and launched WILD DISCUS TODAY with the quality and independence it truly deserved.

Originally envisioned as an exclusive collector’s item, Vitor Hugo Quaresma initially opted for a limited luxury edition. The intricate production demands — premium paper, hardcover binding, and the technical challenge of combining high-end black-and-white art photography with vivid color images of Wild Discus — pushed production costs higher than expected. Nevertheless, the market’s response was clear: the limited edition was a resounding success, selling out all 100 copies in just a few weeks.

However, the broader vision remains: to publish an affordable mass-market edition for the global community. To achieve this, the project relies on securing corporate sponsorship and editorial partnerships.

Despite the disappointment of not receiving support from the brand for which he serves as an ambassador — and whose global reach he continuously helped expand across international distributors —, Vitor Hugo Quaresma remains undeterred. The search for a visionary sponsor or publisher is ongoing to fulfill the overwhelming demand from hundreds of enthusiasts worldwide waiting for their copy.

The current scenario for Wild Discus fish in 2026 is marked by remarkable scientific discoveries, unprecedented advances in captive breeding for conservation, and a strong appreciation for pure phenotypes coming directly from the Amazon Basin. If you are looking for the specific book recently released with this name or the ecosystem trends of this fish, these are the most important events at the moment:

The Literary Phenomenon: Book "Wild Discus Today" The term gained enormous global prominence due to the release of the trilingual monograph (English, Portuguese and German) "Wild Discus Today", written by the specialist Vítor Hugo Quaresma with the collaboration of Heitor Gutierrez and professional photographs by João Palmeiro. Scientific Basis: The work reveals the discoveries of a 3-year scientific expedition aboard the #BarcoSantaremDiscus in the Amazon, precisely revealing the natural diet and the exact parameters of the water where these fish live. Collector's Rarity: The official book was released in May of 2026 at the Interzoo fair in Germany. It has an ultra-limited edition of only 100 specimens, instantly becoming a highly coveted investment item for advanced aquarists. 

Historical Milestone: Large-Scale F1 Breeding For the first time in the world of aquariums, the Santarém Discus Plus team in Portugal achieved a historic feat in the conservation of the species in August 2026. After collecting purebred pairs with the same genetic heritage in the Amazon in 2017 and investing four years in an exclusive breeding project, they developed a technique of artificial incubation and controlled hand feeding. The current practical result is the healthy growth of more than 2,000 wild F1 generation fry, relieving the pressure of predatory capture in nature.