Discus, anyone?

[Airecl]

hi all

I’m thinking of potentially setting up a blackwater discus tank.

I don’t see much on the forum around discus - does anyone have any experience keeping these?

Would a 200L tank be ok for a small group of them?

Just looking for any ideas at the moment. Not something I’m planning to rush into.

Thanks!

 

[Colin_T]

Discus can be easy to keep but need a tank at least 4 foot long x 12 inches wide x 18 inches high.
Make sure the tank is cycled before you get them and keep the water warm 27-28C. If the fish get sick you can raise it to 30-32C.

Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate each week. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to the tank.

Buy a group of young discus that are about 2-3 inches in diameter.

Make sure the fish are well shaped and have no areas on their body that is sunken in. The most common areas that appear sunken in are the belly and top of the head. Fish that have sunken areas on their body have health issues and don't normally recover.

Make sure the fish are eating dead food when you get them.

Deworm the fish with Praziquantel and Levamisole as soon as you get them to reduce the number of parasites on them.

Have some dither fish in the tank with them. You can use some species of tetra, peaceful barbs, rainbowfish, loaches and catfish as dither fish.

Keep the tank in a room where lots of people walk past and move around so the fish don't become nervous and skittish.

 

[Airecl]

Thanks Colin

Tank I was thinking of using is:

116cm (L) x 38cm (D) x 60cm (H)
3 ft 9.6 inch (L) x 14.9 inches (D) x 23.6 inches (H)

Think that is pushing it?

 

[Colin_T]

You should be ok with a group of 5 or 6 young and when they pair off, then separate the pr or move the spare fish out.