Beginner to Discus

[freshcichlid]

ok well i am considering getting a pair of discus and wanted to put in some ramsand a pleco, are they compatible with discus ?
also what is the care like for Discus?
and what are the basic discus that i can get and what are the prices, in the lower categories ?
thanks !

 

[CodyL]

you could try a google search... heres a link http/www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Cichlid,%20Discus.htm

 

[IMCL85]

what size is ur tank? I'm not an expert on discus but I have 4x5-6" diamond discus I have kept for like 3 years now and they do pretty fine. I suggest you to have only discus in one tank a bare tank with nothing but spongefilter, a heater and a uv starilerzer and thats really all u need. Because its alot earsier to take care if you only have dicus you dont have to worry when u treat ur discus when they were sick(belive me unleast u r an expert back when I first have them they have all kinds problem with diet/water temperature/disease/stress etc its not an easy fish to take care, infact it require alot of attension every day to observe when they eat and beheav as well) might cause harm to other fish, discus need temperature atlist on the mid 80 I keep my temperature on my discus tank always at 86 when they have disease will raise above 90 this is why I suggest using bare tank not alot of plants can take this kind of temperature. Any ways thats just how I like to took care of them. Back to ur question about prize generally its depending on what type and size of discus u planing to buy it can be from range of 20-400++ dollars but I live canada so in ur country might be abit lower or higher. Good luck on getting ur first pair of discus .

 

[IMCL85]

Oh just a little more info on discus :
1: You have to do water change offen I do water change like once every 3 days now as they grow bigger and eat like pig(also water should be treated with conditioner and if possible store the water for a few days before water change) and usually 30-40% as they need ultra clean tank.

2: Observing is also important any sign of unusually beheav can be a sign of water/temperature/diet/disease or ph but this is usally only happen when u like to mess with ph medicine as I really dont recommand. Because constantly changing ph is deadly to discus. They can take higher ph but not constantly changes of ph. So rather let it be(also you can toss down a driftwood for lowering ph as well the wood will makes the water acid and discus love that kind of water).

3: Tank should always be in a shaded area for discus they dont like sunlight much so lighting for ur tank ain't really matter just enought to see their beautiful color.

4: Take step ahead of the disease that was going to occur this is what #2 is all about I usually feed them 1once daily as they now r big before was like twice daily with bloodwarm or some specially beef heart with garlic I prepear for them they love beef heart. during feeding you can see that if they have any problem with their fin/body/beheav the best time u could discover problem. And the faster u discover the problem the better chances u have to cure it before its too late.

 

[freshcichlid]

i appreciate all of everyones help here, i think these guys are too much for my experience level. i am going to wait till i know some more about fish and def. get them later !