Could I Keep Discus

[sean11]

hi,
i have a tank that is 40 inches long 18 inches high and 12 inches form the front to the back.
this is a 26 (uk) gallon tank and a 31 (us) gallon tank i think

i was just wondering if i could keep discus in here if, yes how many

thanks alot sean11

 

[teaker1s]

Discus like large tanks, I rescued some that were in a 24G and the male is about 7 inches and he was definatly not happy with the lack of room with the decor in there. they are now in a 55g tank and have both width and depth to swim in

 

[sean11]

what are you dimentions in your 55 gallon tank teakerls

 

[teaker1s]

I used this link to calculate my tank to be 56.77 UK gallons the tank is 36 x 18 x25 inches.
56.77 of course thats with it to the brim. if your looking for something with character and colour what about 'rams'

 

[Alex_]

What other fish do you have in there?

and the rule is at least 15 gallons per adult discus.

 

[blitztidus]

then, using that rule, he should be fine with 1 or two, I would go with one though.

 

[annka5]

I think 30 galls is too small for discus . They really need to be in a group of 6 plus, 30 galls is going to be crampt but also very difficult to keep the water clean enough.
You COULD keep an adult, breeding pair in that size of tank without too much difficulty, but they are expensive and am not sure this is really what you're after?

 

[teaker1s]

In my tank I have at the moment until I upgrade soon as I have other peoples unwanted fish that would have been flushed by previous owner.

lace gouramis 2
dwarf blue coral gouramis 2
Pimelodus Pictus 1
bolivian ram 2
plec 1
discus 2 adult pair that have bred previously
schreitmuller metynnis 2

not the most ideal collection of fish but better than being dead-how can people flush a pet?

 

[kev_kb]

then, using that rule, he should be fine with 1 or two, I would go with one though.

I thought the 'rule' was one adult per 10 gallons, but anyway it doesn't matter. Just because a fish will physicaly fit into a tank doesn't mean it should.

Discus should be kept in groups of min 5 or 6 in general. This size of tank would be fine for one breeding pair only, and by that I mean a bonded pair. Two unbonded Discus should not be kept in this size tank, neither should one on it's own.

 

[teaker1s]

they are a bonded pair they stay with each other as they swim peacefully around, they were in a tank the previous owner had and the water war murky from decaying plants and a useless under gravel filter-they had little colour and were grey- they have regained their colour and are beautiful fish.
I believe they are 8 years old and when the couple split the fish were neglected.

 

[annka5]

A bonded pair IMO would be OK - but the situation sean11 was asking about is maybe not the same as teaker1's; if he has an empty tank and looking to stock it from scratch following an ideal it's not the same as acquiring or rescuing fish.
An 8 year old bonded pair of discus in a 30 gal is not to me the same as buying 2 fish from LFS or even a breeder, which are more than likely not a breeding pair and probably juvenilles.

 

[teaker1s]

couple of pic's of my discus bonded pair in 55G TANK

they seem to change colour in the light and from the terrible state they came to me in I think they are doing well, the female has had a slow road to recovery the plec came from the same owner and is very old.

 

[sean11]

Thank you everyone you have been a big help. still sad tho because i have always wanted discus but life goes on and i will just have to get something else

thanks sean11

p.s.

i just saw the comment, the tank is empty and its been cycled for like 2 months

any hooo see you laterz

 

[John_Nicholson]

Sorry but that pair of discus is really rough looking. The smaller is really in bad shape. If you want success with discus you keep young discus in groups of at least 6. If you want to crowd them in a small tank fine but it will require large water changes. Most people that keep discus change between 25 and 50 percent of their water daily.

-john

 

[teaker1s]

whats wrong with the male then, he was grey and emaciated when I had him he's nice colour now and his fins are clear with a yellow colouring-read the whole of this topic before criticising them-they were destined for a toilet
The female is tatty but with the amount of neglect by the previous owner they are 1000 times better than I first had them, any constructive suggestions on how I improve her are welcome.
I've quarrantine dipped them-dosed her for internal bacterial infection, fungus/fin rot and the condition has
improved greatly -though far from perfect.
I believe that her lack of condition is more due to a weak immune system, not some dire thing I've done, but from long term abuse by the previous owner.

they are feeding on a variety of frozen fish foods and flake.

ph is 6.5-7
nitrite 0
nitrate 40ppm
ammonia 0

planned 200g tank