DISCUS ? Genral infomation

[Chaz]

I was wondering if i could keep them in an 180litre tank? if so how maney and who could be their tankmates? Thanks

 

[wrs]

it seems good, you can maybe have 4-5.
neons, cardinal tetras
blue/gold rams
and
corries can all be tank mates

It would be best to ask in the New World cichlid forum though.

 

[Chaz]

Can i really have 4-5 i thought that they had to be alone! So how does 15 neons sound or is that to maney!

 

[wrs]

exactly what do you think discus are?

Discus are schooling cichlids, they should not be alone.
15 neons may be a tad to many.

you shouldnt get the discus if you are not sure about them, and havent been in the hoby that long, they are very very very delicate fish.

 

[Chaz]

O.K i wasn't going to get them for about 6 mothes because of money and establishing the tank. In that time i should be able to do some rearch B)

sorry for bad spelling

 

[simonbrown403]

Can i really have 4-5 i thought that they had to be alone! So how does 15 neons sound or is that to maney!

4 to 5 discus for a 180ltr is about right, just remember to keep the water changes up to keep the water in tip top condision.

I would't put neons in with discus as they they dont do to well in warmer water, try rummynose or cardanal tetras, these come from the same regions as discus so they should be fine, rams and corys also make good discus companions

 

[CFC]

You cannot keep 4 or 5 adult Discus in a 180 LITRE tank which is about 47 US gallons, that was REALLY bad advice, always allow at least 70 litres of water (20 US gallons) per fish. Neons are also likely to be eaten by Discus and should not be kept with them anyway since the neons cannot tollerate the higher temperatures that are needed to keep Discus, more REALLY bad advise.

In your tank i would suggest no more than a pair of Discus though you would either have to buy a established adult pair or grow out a pair from a group and return the rest to the shop after a pair bond has been formed.
For schooling fish rummynose tetras or cardinal tetras are the best choice as these will thrive in the 80 degree water that Discus require.

 

[wrs]

actually CFC, in an artical by Jack Watley, I think that is how you spell it, it says you can keep THREE ADULT discus in a 29 gallon tank. So a 47 is larger than that, so 4-5 should be fine, if you can keep 3 in a 29.

Though i admit, I didnt know about the neons.

 

[CFC]

So you would whole heartedly advise that someone keeps three 12" territorial fish in a 29 gallon tank?

Maybe a expert Discus keeper could keep 3 Discus in a 29g tank for while until a pair was formed but for most people that is a combination that is just asking for trouble. But hey dont take my word for it, try it and see for yourself if you think you know better.

 

[abstract]

i would take his word for it ^^^^^

 

[wrs]

what? CFC are we talking about the same fish?

discus are only 8 inch fish, and they are peaceful.

 

[abstract]

well i did not read the 12" part when i read his post...everywhere i see the max is 9" or so...however, he really is right on the temperment part though....this is not my text so i will quote and cite it...

What most people fail to accept is the fact that although very "mild" in temperament, the discus is a cichlid. It may be a slow mover, a "fragile" fish if you prefer but when it comes to forming a pair, defending a territory or bully the weakest conspecific in the tank they can work miracles.

http/www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquai...us_revised.html

 

[CFC]

Never seen a full grown adult pair of Discus then WRS? I take that as a no since you obviously have no experience in keeping them or how large they can get or aggressive they can become when breeding, as a established pair will do within a short time of becoming paired.

how many Discus do you currently keep in your 29g tank at the moment WRS?

 

[wrs]

I never said I kept them, I only said what Jack watley had writen in his artical.

and he doesnt have to have a pair, he may want a single sex tank. How many in a 47 then?

I know that cichlids are territorial when breeding. But he never said he wanted breeding pairs, all he asked was how many discus.

 

[CFC]

Juvinile Discus cannot be sexed from external characteristics and as with all Cichlids if you keep a group of them eventually a pair will form whether you want them to or not. Whenever buying new fish you should plan ahead and unless someone has stated that they have either enough space for a group of discus (30g minimum for a pair and then 20g extra for each additional fish) or has a spare tank to move fish into when pairing happens then you really shouldnt be recomending groups of discus to them.