Discus Tank Mates

[hexy]

Hello I would like to add some discuss to my tank but am I bit worried with some of my currently tankmates: (tank is 190 litre)

Angelfish x 2
Cherry Barbs x 10
Penguin Tetras x 13
Dwarf Gourami x 1

Please any help is much appreciated - the discuss are quite young around 2.5inches...

 

[markandhisfish]

hi , at 190 litres your tank is a bit on the small side for discus , even without tankmates. you really need 55 g minimum to start with discus , and you ideally want a group of 6 or more , also even if your tank was bigger imo most of those tankmates would not be suitable. people have had success keeping angels with discus , no problems there , but the barbs would not be good , and also dwarf gouramis can be very teritorial , then there is also the temperature requirements to consider .

 

[mattlee]

as Mark said really but looking at your stocking it doesnt look ideal...


Angelfish x 2 - angels can carry certain diseasea that can be passed onto discus so its advised not to mix the 2 species
Cherry Barbs x 10 - dont think these would like the higher temps.... not sure
Penguin Tetras x 13 - known to be fin nippers and very active so not a great choice for discus set ups
Dwarf Gourami x 1 - can become bullys and annoy other fish when a bit older

discus prefer warmer temps at about 30oC so you really have to take that into consideration when thinking of them for your tank. most fish will live quite happily at 26-27 degrees but that extra few degrees can be stressfull for certain species and even make them lethargic. also if the discus are small they will need plenty of feedings per day and would be better off in a bare bottom tank so the uneaten food can be removed before it spoils the water causing issues. with 3 or 4 feeding per day for smaller discus its likely that you will end up over feeding the other tank mates as these will eat most of the food provided as discus are very slow casual eaters compared to most other fish and will certainly be out competed for food with the stocking list you have provided.
if you really want discus then a pair would be ideal in a tank of that size but they would have to be a pair that have lived as a pair so no bullying etc occurs, maybe get an old breeding pair that a breeder is selling as these fish will live in peace together. the stocking in my opinion would have to be changed though to suit the discus, you really need to plan the tank around them instead of adding them to an existing set up.

 

[hexy]

as Mark said really but looking at your stocking it doesnt look ideal...


Angelfish x 2 - angels can carry certain diseasea that can be passed onto discus so its advised not to mix the 2 species
Cherry Barbs x 10 - dont think these would like the higher temps.... not sure
Penguin Tetras x 13 - known to be fin nippers and very active so not a great choice for discus set ups
Dwarf Gourami x 1 - can become bullys and annoy other fish when a bit older

discus prefer warmer temps at about 30oC so you really have to take that into consideration when thinking of them for your tank. most fish will live quite happily at 26-27 degrees but that extra few degrees can be stressfull for certain species and even make them lethargic. also if the discus are small they will need plenty of feedings per day and would be better off in a bare bottom tank so the uneaten food can be removed before it spoils the water causing issues. with 3 or 4 feeding per day for smaller discus its likely that you will end up over feeding the other tank mates as these will eat most of the food provided as discus are very slow casual eaters compared to most other fish and will certainly be out competed for food with the stocking list you have provided.
if you really want discus then a pair would be ideal in a tank of that size but they would have to be a pair that have lived as a pair so no bullying etc occurs, maybe get an old breeding pair that a breeder is selling as these fish will live in peace together. the stocking in my opinion would have to be changed though to suit the discus, you really need to plan the tank around them instead of adding them to an existing set up.

Thank you guys for the tips! I think I'll wait to get discus then until I have more room and can have another large tank! What would you recommend adding to this tank? I would like to start breeding something (have bred angels in separate tanks before) would Rams be able to live with these? Or is a community tank too hard to breed in and ill need separate little tanks again?

 

[mattlee]

com tanks are not ideal for intentionally trying to breed in. firstly if you have egg laying fish chances are the other fish will get to them eventually or the parents will eat then instead. if you have livebearers then the fry will be well out competed for food and wont be able to eat as much, fry also need plenty of fresh water daily and need to feel secure. also any small fry will do well to escape the mouths of other fish.
to breed fish its best to keep them to their own tank and give the fry lots of fresh water and plenty of feedings.
bolivian rams may be ok in that set up but gbr's prefer higher temp water.
why not add a few bottom feeders like a nice group of corys or smaller loaches like polkadots. both are very friendly and dont attack anything else in the tank