Angelfish Or Discus

[ChrisC]

The title says it all!

I want a display fish for a mediumish tank with other fish (mostly bottom feeders) and was wondering what you thought: a single angel or a single discus. Are Discus really so legendarily hard to keep as everyone makes them out to be?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[demonmagus]

some people even use RO for discus, and you may have to keep 4-6 OR a breeding pair. angels are cool though

 

[love_fish]

I personally like Angels. Just to be sure though, what else are you keeping?

 

[ChrisC]

and you may have to keep 4-6 OR a breeding pair.

What a load of rubbish Jai! The reason people recommend 4-6 is because they are still cichilids and are very territorial so need their aggression spreading out, but with only one of them, how much aggression spreading is needed?

love_fish, I won't have a problem with other fish. Just bottom feeders like corys/khuli loaches/snails etc.

My real question is about the hardiness of discus. I know they use RO water for breeding purposes but I doubt it's necessary.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Spyderdf]

if ur looking for fish with hardiness, dont go discus. They are the last thing you want for hardiness.

Angels are what you are looking for, go with them


Good luck


Josh

 

[fishfishfish]

agreed.angels will practically live through anything

 

[monkeyman]

You jus gotta try discus sometime though... Id love to try (my very best, with all that i have learned about them) but id need another tank!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

i would go angels. that is only me though, cause i dont realy like discus. they look like a frisbee to me and some of their patterns freak me out

 

[ChrisC]

they look like a frisbee to me and some of their patterns freak me out

lol!

I'm not really after a HARDY fish, it's just that most people seem to make out Discus to be as fragile as a card tower. I was just wondering whether this was true or it was just a myth designed to stop newbies getting them. Another alternative would be a kissing gourami but the problem is they apparently eat plants and the tank they're for is HEAVILY planted.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[prankster705]

Kissing guaramis rarely eat plants if they get spirulina flakes or some other vegis, they do eat algea though. But bear in mind that kissing guaramis grow up to 30cm (12").

 

[ChrisC]

bear in mind that kissing guaramis grow up to 30cm (12").

Yes, I'm fully aware of that, but the way my lfs runs is that they sell and BUY fish. So if it outgrows (they very rarely exceed 7") then it I can sell it back to him at a reasonable cost. When you say "spiraluna flakes", are they just normal flakes or are they a special variety? What about algae tabs?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[prankster705]

It's vegi flakes and it's spirulina (type of algea I think).

 

[ChrisC]

It's vegi flakes and it's spirulina (type of algea I think).

Ok, thanks!