Discus Buddies

[Fadi]

Ok so I have a 60 gallon tank right now and am looking to add some discus in there.

What I plant to do is have the following fish...

3 Dwarf Gourami
2 Firered Gourami
2-4 Angel Fish
1 Honey Gourami
1 Blue Gourami
2-4 random platy

Now what I was wondering is how many discus can i fit with those fish in my 60G.

The tank dimensions are...Length = 48 in, Height = 20 in, Width = 12 in

I was aiming at atleast 4 discus, up to 8.

What are your thoughts??

Also if I got about 4 discus right now, and 4 later, would the two groups get along?

 

[Tolak]

Discus are best kept as a species only tank, with perhaps a school of corys & a small plec. I wouldn't go with more than 6 discus in that tank.

I'm not real sure on the temperment of the gouramis, But I do know with 4 angels you are bound to get a pair. That will be a problem for the discus as well as the gourami. The platys should be ok, don't plan on seeing any fry with the discus or angels.

Discus require pristine water, the fewer you have, the easier maintenance will be.

 

[Fadi]

So how about this layout

6 discus different colors
2 angelfish (black)
8 gourami
neon tetra (a school of them)

What do you guys think??

 

[Tolak]

Good chance the neons will be fish food. Some people have good luck keeping angels with discus, others don't. Aggressiveness is always a concern, as is eating habits. Angels tend to gobble food like pigs, discus tend to graze. From the angels I've kept & bred, the black ones tend to be more aggressive, but they are all individuals.

 

[Fadi]

I only have one angel right now so i guess I will keep it at that.

6 discus
1 angel
8 gourami
5 platy that i have....

do u like this or not??? I can always get rid of the platy...

 

[Tolak]

I'm thinking the one angel shouldn't be too much of a worry with a group of discus, any aggression would be spread, if it does occur. The platys should be fine, discus do like warmer temps, but I've kept platys with angels at 82F without a problem. You just need someone to come along that knows something about gouramis.

 

[Fadi]

Tolak, you were a great help thanks. I think gouramis should be ok with the discus though.

 

[jayjay]

honey gourami's should work, i wouldn't say dwarves would as most have this bacterial infection(well everyone of mine has and 'nmonk' knows more about this.) the blue gourami will get aggressive and grow to about 6inches. the fire red gourami, are they just red honey gourmai's if they are their ok aswel.

i agree with the 6 discus, 1 angel

 

[demonmagus]

Angels should be in groups, they look better as well, if I was you I would do an amazon biotope, just discus, cories, angels, and a big school of one type of tetra (neons, rummy e.t.c.)

 

[jayjay]

demonmagus - neons will be eaten, but the rest of it sounds alright

 

[demonmagus]

yeah, I heard about that, but sometimes they dont.

Personally I would replace neons for rummy nose

 

[kev_kb]

I had to remove an angel from my Discus tank as it was far too agressive for them, plus even without the aggression they are always first at the food this can sometimes put shy Discus off feeding. They do much better with calmer tank mates.

I'd go for a group of Discus with some cardinals or rummies, then maybe have corys and a small rare plec for the bottom of the tank. I'd also go with a bare bottom tank unless you buy adult Discus. Not sure if the gouramis would like the soft and acidic water and high temperature that Discus require.

 

[Fadi]

Ok thanks alot guys. This is going to be my idea...

4-6 discus
1 angelfish, maybe add another.
6-8 gourami
6 platy i already have.


I will see how it works out and will inform you guys, i just wanna make sure temp in the tank is good and ph etc.

 

[demonmagus]

Ok thanks alot guys. This is going to be my idea...

4-6 discus
1 angelfish, maybe add another.
6-8 gourami
6 platy i already have.


I will see how it works out and will inform you guys, i just wanna make sure temp in the tank is good and ph etc.

well I seriously don't agree with 1 angelfish, like all cichlids they like to be in groups, and they look much nicer in groups as well.

What type of gouramies do you want?

 

[annka5]

Angelfish aside - 8 gourami, AND 6 discus, AND angelfish, AND platies... you'll be constantly battling with water quality IMO.
Most people recommend allowing around 10 galls per discus for a group of them. If you have 6, then really you would be better off leaving it at that, though IMO you could keep the platies with them - the 10 galls does err on the side of caution.