Discus

[kevin007]

I want to get some discus in my 55G tank, i got the guppies away, and now it's just full of cories. The tank is mainly a cory tank, i want to make sure that the cories are safe, no bullying, even in feeding time, no nipping, cories are placed first on my list, i want to get 1 discus, a young one, i used to have 2 discus, it just doesnt work out, anyway, the main question is if the cories will get bullied, i also plan to getting a bunch of cardinals,

 

[kevin007]

I also want to add if the cardinals are nippy? i want my fish tank to be 100% peaceful, just like my guppies, no fights, not nips, and most of all..leaves my cories alone

I have kept a school of harlequin rasboras before, a school of 14, they died off slowly time to time, they seem to nip each other, chase etc, i hope the cardinals doesnt do that....

 

[KageBunshin]

Well I replied to you in the other one, but i'll do it here too.

I have 3 c. sterbai in my tank with the discus and 3 clown loaches. They get a long real great. I also have a group of neons too. Neons tend to make discus more brave and swim a lot more. I do not know about cardinals tho. Some people say that neons are too small for discus, but i have been keeping them together for while and there is no sign of neon sandwiches.

 

[kevin007]

well, i like the fact the discus dont even know that the cories exsist I would not keep neons cause i dont want them to get ntd or ick. btw that nebula discus is gorgeous, ppl who inpired me were gf, jimboo, you and one other member with discus too...truly gorgeous fish, i've kept blue turq before, but nowadays i'v seen some yellow and red ones available too

 

[annka5]

No problem with cories (assuming they are a kind which can tolerate the higher temps) or the cardinals. However, discus really need to be kept in groups, so one on its own would not be ideal. Most people advocate keeping younger discus (say less than 3") in a bare bottomed tank, as they needs very very clean water and high protein food - the bare bottom makes it easier to clean. Otherwise you risk them becoming stunted.
Would you consider getting 5 discus of a minimum size of 3", say from a local breeder (which would be cheaper than an LFS)?

 

[Clairel]

When you say they need to be in groups, are 2 ok? Or do they need to be in 3's or more? For the smaller ones i mean??

Im talking about the younger ones, around 2-3"

C x

 

[annka5]

It's usually recomended that you keep an adult, breeding pair (not just a random two fish) OR a shoal of (preferably) 6+. However, as fish can't count, people do seem to get away with keeping 5.
the problem with keeping three or four is that there are fewer fish to spread out the aggression - particularly with three, the smallest, or one particular fish, will be constantly picked on by the other 2. With 6 there are more to spread the aggression.
They aren't the easiest fish to keep properly and are expensive, so it makes sense to try to replicate ideal as conditions as possible, that way you should get to enjoy them for the 8+ years they can live for.

 

[Clairel]

So you wouldnt advise upon just 1 ?

C x

 

[kevin007]

see, i've kept discus before, *if u look at the link in my sig* and i've kept 2 ..it was a disaster, the one that is more shy, kept on bein picked on..until he died.... my other one however is fine.I got rid of him because i had 100 gupies waiting to get in my 55G and i want my gupies to be able to breed and i dont have to scoop them up and stuff. How peaceful are the cardinals? people say the rasboras were peaceful..well..they arnt, the nip each other..and the weakest one dies...then the next weakest..i'm down to 1 now and he is fine on his own..so obviously it's the other rasboras that kept on pickin on him. are cardinals the same?

EDIT: i've kept the discus before..and the one left on his own was healthy and thriving, they are not only not hard to keep but easy, a good filter is what you need, i'm not talkin about the wild ones though. Once they get used to your water, they arnt that hard to keep at all. Btw i can get them for $20CDN ea, got yellow ones..blue one red ones...

I might just get a blue one or just a red one, i'm glad to hear that they wont conflict with the cories, not even a lil bit, the cories are the main specimens in the tank..usually it's the discus, but i'm a cory keeper. I also hope the cardinals wont nip my cories.... If even one person has any experience with nipping cardinals, please post, i mean they are in the same family as pirahanas

 

[Clairel]

I have someone that lives near me... He breeds them... I rang him today just to enquire....

If i do get any, i want very small ones maybe 2"

He has for sale at the moment 6 Adults 6" £60 each...

Or,

In 2-4 weeks the small ones will be ready 2" at around £5 each..

C x

 

[j0rzeh]

After keeping discus and breeding and selling them for the last 5 years ive found this... there fine with 95% of fish inculding guppys they only bully each other and the more you have of them the less they will single the weakest discus out...

once i get my stupid K750 mobile fixed ill get piccies up of afew of the tanks i have with them in..

lost of blood worm and water changes will keep them happy and RO water will make them colour up and grow to the req size the quickest

its to late for me im off to bed g nite