Angel Fish And Discus

[andyg81]

once my tanks settled and cycled im thinking of getting 2 small angel fish and 2/3 discus. does anyone think these may not mix ?

 

[soybean]

The juwel tank in your sig? (do you mean 180 or is it the corner one?)

Not a good mix. discus like to be in groups and need a larger tank and ideally softer, acidic water with a high temperature.

Angels don't stay small and some like tetra shaped objects as a snack.

 

[andyg81]

Yes sorry it's a 180 it was second hand so wasn't sure at first . Been told by the lfs that discus would be ok I the tank that's why I asked .

With regards to the angels that may not be a good idea if they like to eat others lol

 

[soybean]

Rio 180 then. Same as mine and a no go for discus.

Angels need quite a deep tank as well as they can get very tall.

 

[andyg81]

Right ok first thug on my list is a couple of glass cleaner / sucker fish as I call them lol

 

[soybean]

Narrow that down?! Chinese algae eaters will turn into your worst nightmare and are regularly available as tiny sucker fish from fish shops.

Otos might be an option as they stay tiny but need a very mature and well established tank.

No fish cleans the tank better than you and a bit of elbow grease

 

[andyg81]

I'll get the proper names from the lfs

This is where I'm getting confused - various websites say its ok to have discus in my tank and the some don't lol nothings clear (apart from my water at the minute) lol

2x Pleco that's the name

 

[soybean]

Can you fit a decent sized group of adult, fully grown discus in your tank? No. It's only three feet long. Young ones maybe, before being moved to a much longer tank, but not for long term housing.

Couple with the fact they have quite specific water and temperature requirements, they are not community fish. There are fish you can keep with them - blue rams, rummynose tetras, etc, but you couldn't plonk three discus in your tank as it is now and expect them to thrive in any way.

Chinese algae eaters - avoid like the plague http/www.google.co.uk/search?q=chinese+algae+eater&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=omtLT-W2B-PQ0QXzitWjDg&biw=1024&bih=644&sei=o2tLT_bwNeic0AX3sd3tBw

 

[andyg81]

so the plecos are a no as well then !

doing well here arent I lol

look out for the status soon - for sale, job lot of fish tank stuff lol

only joking, it just seems that no one agrees with anyone else - visited 3 aquatic places over the weekend and all 3 offered different advice on the same subjects - including which fish would be ok etc

 

[soybean]

A CAE isn't a plec. What kind were you after? A bristlenose or other similar plec that stays SMALL ie about 6 inches at the most might be ok.

Common plecs etc aren't an option in that size tank.

For every shop that cares about the future of the fish they're selling and how it will be cared for, there are probably at least two who will tell you anything. Kerching goes the till.

 

[andyg81]

Went one on Saturday wharf aquatics in pinxton excellent place I thought

I think the plecs were bristle nose yes I'll look in the shop tonight

 

[soybean]

You could add a bristlenose if you want, I would only add one.

 

[andyg81]

right ok, not adding any just yet, need to get my ammonia levels down anyway, was just a thought for the future

 

[onidrase]

a 3 foot tank, I heard? I'm gonna have to agree with the no's and advice from soybean, he knows his stuff, and he also knows as well as the rest of us that fish stores and pet stores alike are just trying to sell you stuff, they're businessmen, not experts.

Regardless, it's always better to check around the forums (there are plenty of experts and species enthusiasts on here who can give amazing advice) rather than talking to the pet store clerks.

if you still want discus, put six 8 inch diameter dinner plates in your tank, those are just about how big discus get, give or take, and think about if that would be fair for them. Discus should be kept in a group of 6, in a tank at least 4 feet long and 1 foot wide, preferably wider. If you keep them in a trio or smaller group like you wanted, there will not be enough of them to disperse aggression, and it may lead to casualties.

 

[soybean]

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