discus questions

[GSD]

youve proberbly answered these a million times before but im new to this part of the board )

what size tank does a discus need to be happy?i heard 10gallons but not sure its right

can they be kept with anything else.and can they be kept with tiger barbs?

i heard they are very difficult to keep what temperature etc do they need.

oh and wont they eat small fish(neons and other tetras)if you put them in with it.

planted or not planted??

and any other information you can give me would be great!

 

[Ben]

Discus need to be in groups of atleast 6 and a 55 gallon should be an absoloute minimum, 75 is better.
They need really good water so water changes should be done frequntly.
I'm not too sure about tiger barbs, as they are an active fish while discus are skittish. So another larger tetra will do(they will eat anything like neons and guppies).
They need good filteration,water changes(as i said) and a high temp around 82F
They like plants and caves to hide around as they are a very shy fish

Good Luck

DD

 

[GSD]

i have heard lots of diffrent advice over tank size.so thanks for clearing that up!
i didnt know they were group fish they sound really hard to keep too...

 

[Ben]

Not that hard if you get into a rythem of things
Great fish to watch

DD

 

[big mick]

ou dont HAVE to keep them in groups of 6 although it is better, Ive kept my 2 for years and they are great.

Dont keep one on its own though.

Tiger barbs are a bad idea though.......they are terrible 'fin nippers'

Dwarf Dude is correct in saying water quality is the main thing, with discus, my tank is 300ltr and I change 30% of the water 3 times a week, its alot of work but I enjoy it.

 

[Ben]

ou dont HAVE to keep them in groups of 6 although it is better,

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When they are young you do have to.
Otherwise one will become dominant and terrorize the other one.
The only time,IMO when they can be kept in pairs is when they are a close breeding pair.

DD

 

[GSD]

thanks for everyones info

i have noticed alot of people keeping 1 discus in a planted tank etc and thats what i was hoping to do.didnt realise that they needed groups looks like ill have to think of something else

 

[Fish_Mike]

All Discus are different. If you're lucky and come across one that likes to be alone, like Digweed, that's great. And they do not eat neons or guppies at all. They can technically be kept with most, tiny fish.

 

[Ben]

All Discus are different. If you're lucky and come across one that likes to be alone, like Digweed, that's great. And they do not eat neons or guppies at all. They can technically be kept with most, tiny fish.

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Ahem...I Don't mean to sound rude but how long have you studied the Discus fish?
Neons and fish roughly the size of neons(such as guppys) are natural food for Discus in the wild and they WILL get eaten in the tank, just like Angels and Neons.
And even if the discus dont eat the neons, the neons will probably die of so much stress put onto them by have large predetors in the tank with them, the discus will give them "heart attacks".

Sorry to hi jack GSlvr

DD

 

[GSD]

no its fine DD ,
im really interested
i was thinking of digweed as he is alone.i dont think i would ever put discus with small tetras,just wondering if it can be done. )

 

[Fish_Mike]

I've been studying Discus for over 2 years now, just to let you know.

Neons and fish roughly the size of neons(such as guppys) are natural food for Discus in the wild

I suppose that is true, however if the discus are raised with the neons, they will most likely not eat them. Discus do eat small fish, but i'm almost certain that Neons are too big even for Discus' mouths. I do know that discus eat insect larvae and as long as you keep them fed upon good food, they'll be fine.

What i mean by fed is that as long as you don't starve them for 2 weeks, they shouldn't touch the neons.

 

[GSD]

ok so i was thinking of doing something like digweed!
1 loan discus but now i know they need to live in groups
i dont think i would ever keep them with somehing as small as neons,i was thinking barbs,but i now know theyre a no because theyre nippers

 

[Fish_Mike]

Sorry, may i add that you are right, DD, that they can eat the neons, however in a planted tank where both fish have many hiding spots, they should be fine. However, there are always cardinals They are bulkier and their red line is longer, making them just as attractive.

 

[Adistar]

Something that was pointed out, that discus have to be kept in atleast a group of 6... is well... i believe wrong. when i was alot younger, and now.. we kept discus as single.. and in groups of 3.. all lived for a very long time and their was not much agression apart from the normal pecking order. But i agree as juvi's it is best to get as many as you can. but if you can only get 3 or something they should be fine.

I would not take the chance of keeping them with smaller fish such as neons because of the fact that it is their natural food, but.. it has been done assuming their are alot of hiding spots and heavily planted tank. I persoanlly would not risk it.

Good luck

Josh

 

[GSD]

ok thanks everyone

is there any particular reason that an asult could be ok on its own and a juvi cant?

sorry never ever had discus before