Discus

[KyleJ]

I purchased a Discus fish the other day without looking it up, I dont normally do this but I really wanted this one. Does anyone have any advise or anything I need to know about keeping this? I was also looking into getting some barbs to finish me tank off, will this be ok?

Cheers
Kyle

 

[jayjay]

if your being serious, we have a troll which said something similar. you spent quite a bit of money on a fish you know nothing about.

tank size?
tank mates?

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

read this http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=42070 for starters then take a look in the new world cichlids section where you'll find all the discus posts. Good luck, discus require very specific care.

Emma

 

[KyleJ]

Thanks for that, iv read up quiet a bit now

 

[SamUK]

poor discus.

thats pretty crappy of your LFS to sell you a fish that takes such dedication without warning.

 

[kev_kb]

poor discus.

Indeed, what are your plans now Kyle?

 

[KyleJ]

poor discus.

Indeed, what are your plans now Kyle?

Plans??

I understand it might be a difficult fish, this is why I asked for help hoping to get some advise and not people telling me its a bad idea etc.

Iv looked up as much as I could, theres another lfs near me that has some full ize discus in a display tank which I can go for help, hes feeding ok and hasnt been any trouble to any other fish so far

 

[SamUK]

discus are best kept in groups in species only tanks and really wont appreciate the crap other fish will put in the water and do to your levels as they like really clean water.


what tank mates do you have with it and what size is your tank?

 

[KyleJ]

I have 2 clown loaches and 2 silver sharks, I relies they need clean water, I already do around 20-25 percent water change a week but might do 2 a week if that helps?

My tanks isnt the largest I relies, I believe its around 18 gallons or so, I need to find out for certain! This tank isnt forever though and in time like 6 months or so ill move to a larger tank. I would love to only have discus in this tank cause the one iv got is a right character but my tank isnt big enough and im not experienced enough for that.

Cheers
Kyle

 

[SamUK]

well not a single one of your fish is suitable for your tank im afraid.


clowns and balas need to be in groups of 4+. theres a real difference in character when in lower numbers.


then theres the fact there both very active fish and clowns grow to 9"+ and balas about 14".


discus grow big aswell so 18G is far too small.


getting a new tank is good but youll need it alot sooner than 6 months if you want to keep those fish.

 

[BigIan]

lets hope you learnt your lesson and will not impulse buy again...

discus are chiclids and vary greatly from individual to individual, some may like crystal clear water and may not cope with other fish,
i`ve even heard of discus breeding in comunity tanks,

i`d judt keep with the maintance regeme that you have now, and keep an eye on your discus, they change colour very quickly when there not happy, from there normal bright colour do a very dark almost black colour.

bright discus = happy discus

 

[KyleJ]

Thanks for the advise, I know I shouldnt buy on impulse but he looked cool, I know about the colour change now he's usualy bright during the day then at night in the dark turned black, panicked a bit but he changed back to colour, ill have to keep an eye on him.

About the tank size, iv seen full size clown loaches and discus, from the size of them I relise I need a far bigger tank. Funds are a bit tight at the minute but I will look into getting one sooner rather then later, if they get too big quick I will take them to a lfs

Any ideas on what an ideal size woul be?

 

[annka5]

Sorry, you say you're "looking for advice, not people telling me its a bad idea" but what if the advice is that it is a bad idea and you need to make some changes? I honestly can see where you're coming from, but a lone discus in an 18 gallon tank with sharks and clown loach..?
The research you've done since buying it must've shown you that this isn't appropriate, it just won't work out even for the 6 months you have before you will add another tank. Even if it were to survive for 6 months, when you get a bigger tank, your discus will still be on it's own with pretty incompatible tank mates -sharks are too active, and big, for discus.
To me you're not going to get to enjoy your fish at there best in the current set up. Chances are your discus won't survive for the 10 years or so it should; however long it does last for I would imagine that you will end up with a fish that will not grow properly, will not develop great colouration, will not have that fantastically round shape to it, etc etc.
So, my advice is that you need to make some changes - decide on a bigger tank, rehoming some fish, or preferably both. I know that isn't what you want to hear, but you did ask for peoples advice /information.

In the meantime, keep the water clean. Really clean.
Keep the temp at around 29C for the discus. I don't know if this is OK for sharks or not. If this is going to be a problem for the sharks, then one or the other will have to go. I think clown loaches are fine in this temp range, but have never kept them myself, you might want to check for yourself.
Feed a good mixture of quality food, and watch carefully that the discus gets his share - they are slow eaters, and sharks are not, so this will be likely to give you a problem.

 

[KyleJ]

Sorry, you say you're "looking for advice, not people telling me its a bad idea" but what if the advice is that it is a bad idea and you need to make some changes? I honestly can see where you're coming from, but a lone discus in an 18 gallon tank with sharks and clown loach..?
The research you've done since buying it must've shown you that this isn't appropriate, it just won't work out even for the 6 months you have before you will add another tank. Even if it were to survive for 6 months, when you get a bigger tank, your discus will still be on it's own with pretty incompatible tank mates -sharks are too active, and big, for discus.
To me you're not going to get to enjoy your fish at there best in the current set up. Chances are your discus won't survive for the 10 years or so it should; however long it does last for I would imagine that you will end up with a fish that will not grow properly, will not develop great colouration, will not have that fantastically round shape to it, etc etc.
So, my advice is that you need to make some changes - decide on a bigger tank, rehoming some fish, or preferably both. I know that isn't what you want to hear, but you did ask for peoples advice /information.

In the meantime, keep the water clean. Really clean.
Keep the temp at around 29C for the discus. I don't know if this is OK for sharks or not. If this is going to be a problem for the sharks, then one or the other will have to go. I think clown loaches are fine in this temp range, but have never kept them myself, you might want to check for yourself.
Feed a good mixture of quality food, and watch carefully that the discus gets his share - they are slow eaters, and sharks are not, so this will be likely to give you a problem.

No mate when I say 'Im looking for advise not people saying its a bad idea' I mean just that, you there have gave me advise but if had just said 'poor discus' 'bad lfs for selling you that' 'you should have looked it up' ect thats what I dont want to know, I already know that.

Anyway iv asked for advise so he doesnt suffer too much, i will look into getting a new tank thanks but fund are tight but I already have equipment, I just need a bigger tank and room for it to go of course. What size should I look at? Also will I have to setup the tank along side mine to get it cycled? How will I then move it once it has cycled? Iv I move the current euipment to a new tank will it cycle quicker?

 

[SamUK]

two things tho.

1. this is a fish forum so when you do something wrong and tell us about ti you have to expect to get complaints.

2. theres about a billion of these types of posts throughout the forum each day and most of the people making them arent willing to listen to advice there given so it gets quite annoying and puts you in a bad attitiude for the next thread if you kno what i mean.


the thing is with your situation is all your fish need a bigger tank but you cant really keep them all together even when you get it.


kinda like trying to keep lions with buffalos.

you need to choose which ones you want and then find out if you have enough time before they outgrow your tank.