Discus

[kribensis12]

I was wondering if i could put 1 discus alone ina 20g flat hex tank or 30g tank with a school of neon's and some cory's excedra? I asked in the chat room and they said it probably wont work as the discus might get depressed. It dosent make any sense to me. How could he be depressed if he has all kinds of tank mate's?Help?
Krib

 

[The-Wolf]

20G is far too small for a discus,
also he will end up eating all the neons

 

[kribensis12]

How about a 30? I was hopeing for maybe cardnal( heard they are bigger?) tetra's, adn maybe some lemon's. Would it work now?

 

[Straydum]

it may work for one discus but i'm against the idea. at least a 55g is still the safest. cardinals though bigger can still fit into the mouth of an adult discus

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

If you raise discus with neons/cardinals from a young age they will not see them as food. Also discus are schooling fish and need company, bigger tanks are always a must with discus. They like a lot of free swimming space.

Chris

 

[bugsy66]

Well I can give you my opinion about this as I am dealing with this right now. I have a huge Cobalt Discus that is my baby and no I cannot take it to the store. Had him since he was very tiny, anyhow I do have to say that they do get lonely. I had an Angel in my tank with my Discus but now as they are full grown all they did was fight even though they were bought as tiny babies.

Today I just went and bought some Dwarf Blue Neon Rainbow fish to see if this will help him out with some other swimming fish instead of just the catfish in there. I have live plants and the tank looks very homey but they do better in groups I would have to agree. My tank is not big enough for a group of them and if I were to add another Discus he would tear it apart I am sure.

They are truly beautiful fish no doubt and one of my favorite. But then again there is no "law" saying you cannot just have one in your tank either just other Discus folks will not like it.

They do require very good water quality and dedication on that part so if you are not up on your water changes you might want to look at some other kinds of fish.

I would love to get a bigger tank oneday and devote that tank to a nice school of them as they are a room show stopper for sure.

If you happen to go with Discus be very careful what other fish you put in with it and do some homework before you buy.

Hope this helps.....

If you raise discus with neons/cardinals from a young age they will not see them as food. Also discus are schooling fish and need company, bigger tanks are always a must with discus. They like a lot of free swimming space.

Chris

Hey Chris, how do you find the loaches you have listed with Discus, do they bother them at all??

 

[kribensis12]

I do have a angelfish, if they would get along! All i know is, that i could probably give those babies they get in a better home than half the people who are buying them! I do have some black widow tetra school of 5. Then i have 2 danio's plus 2 mollies, 1 platy, and a Bbay Blood Parrot( to be rehomed when it get's too big for the tank!). So if i were to remove everything excpet for the angel, tetra's and danio's, do you think they discus would be happy? I am completely ready for the requirement's i did keep 1 discus before, it was a buy to rescue fish, which died a month later from it's disease(s). Here is a link of him: http/www.fishforums.net/content/forum/17...us-In-Distress/

 

[Mr._Fishy]

If I were you, I would not get a discus. As mentioned before, they are schooling fish and need company of its own species for the same reasons, say, a neon tetra does. Also, I highly recommend that you get a heavy metal filter (RO recommended) as the heavy metals can hurt these sensitive fish. I don't know how experienced you are (please do not get offended), but if you are just getting into the fish keeping world, I would suggest you wait on the discus. They are very sensitive and when they get sick, they are harder than many fish to get well again. They need VERY clean water, need to be in groups of six or so at the minimum, and should be kept in nothing less than a 55g or so. They are also very expensive (I paid $75 apiece for mine). Also, when it comes to rescuing, there are mixed opinions on this subject. I don't want to start a flame war, but in this case, since the conclusion that I draw is this is the first time your LFS got them in, I wouldn't rescue them. If you did, they might think they are selling and will bring more in. Many other fish will suffer because of this.

HTH,
Ryan

 

[doubledee]

I would agree, if you have to ask questions such as this you are not ready for Discus IMHO. Sorry if that sounds harsh but Discus are very sensitive and although tank bred specimens are regarded as pretty easy to care for as long as you stick to a rigid cleaning and feeding routine you will be fine. Some folks don't realise the committment that that entails. I had discus years ago after keeping fish for a considerable time and doing lots of research. My advice would be to read up on them some more and when you think you are ready and have the resources to provide a decent sized aquarium (and RO filter if required depending on your water) for a group of them, go for it. I've just got back into fishkeeping after a number of years away from the hobby and after a year, I still don't think I am ready to keep Discus again. I went for Apistos as I find them equally as fascinating and some of those are considered sensitive fish. I will build up my experience before I consider keeping them again, although I'm trying to resist setting up another tank in the new year!

 

[kribensis12]

I have had theese fish( i have been told that year's dosent count on experience)
Angelfish
Kribs
Brichardi
Mollies
Platy's
Guppies
Sowrdtail's
Golly's
Pike Livebearer
Jack Dempsey( didnt know they needed a big tank at the time!)
Discus( that one time!)
Pleco's
Cory's
Neon Tetra's
Lemon Tetra's
Glo-Light tetra's
Zebra Danio's
Endler's
Rasbora's( dont remebr what kind!)
Jewel Cichlid's
Oscar's( had a 55g tank at the time!)
Blue Gill
Blue Ram( died from unknown causes, still trying to find out why!)
Borelli's Apistogramma
Apistogramma Cacacudoes( spelling?)
Betta's
And several other fish that dont come to mind!
I have looked into RO's and they cost to much, maybe when i get a job
Our lfs sell's babies( 2 to 4 inches) for 20 doallrs, adult's 60 dollars. Also, i use a dechlorinator that is supposed to get de-toxify heavy metal's and my lfs uses the same as me. Also my freind of the lfs quoted, "the discus and several other discus werent looking to good when they came in" . Im am in a debate between your guy's advise, and my own want's, and the fact that i never get the opportunity to keep theese fish as they never come in, even if you special order!
Krib

 

[Straydum]

experience in these areas wouldn't really make much of a difference. where i see it, discus are of a different league all together. the fishes you mentioned are very much all hardy species which can survive or thrive even in the most basic of conditions. discus on the other hand lies on the point whereby water is life, and the quality of the water cannot be stressed enough.

it is only right that research, and i mean more then ever, should be done prior to these fishes. their exact and specific requirements would really be what you'd have to know by hard. simply by asking if a discus can be kept in a 20 or 30g would already mean that you haven't done reading up, or maybe not enough to the point whereby you're 'considered' ready to keep them.

believe me, the last thing you'd want is a lifeless discuss in your hands. i wouldnt even bare to throw a fish, be it dead, that beautiful and stunning down the bin or toilet. krib i think you should reconsider embarking on your discus adventure that early and instead work your knowledge on them. i may sound harsh but thats what ever other keeper who has a heart for the fishes would do as well

- straydum

 

[bugsy66]

Krib,

Hi again, I don't think anyone is doubting your experience with the list of fish you have kept. But as mentioned water quality is the utmost importance with Discus as is companionship with each other.

As I have stated I have a single very large, very healthy vibrant Cobalt Discus in my tank. Yes it can be done but they do and look so much better in pairs or in groups as they graceously swim together. Discus IMO are not hard to keep if you meet their requirements and are religious about it.

I would strongly suggest that you look at other alternatives for your tank and when you have a nice tank you can devote to a school of Discus do your homework and get them then.

There are many kinds of fish you can put in that tank you already have that would be very beautiful.....

 

[kribensis12]

Can you name a few?

 

[bugsy66]

Well you have quite a list of fish there but I don't see rainbow fish. There are many kinds of these and some get quite large so be careful on which ones you would choose.

The ones that I just bought are just beautiful. They are the Dwarf Neon Blue with the red fins and they just glisten. If your bottom is dark they really show up nice, my bottom is not dark enough but oneday I want to change it to a more natural color of brown instead of what I have.

So you could give them a try, another type of fish is the Gourami family. The Powder Blues are very pretty too.

 

[kribensis12]

Well, today i was given 20$ to petsmart, and 10 to my fav lfs. I got 3 angelfish! 2 Marbled's from petsmart, and 1 albino from my lfs. I already have a marbled from my lfs so now i have 4! They are in the 20g i am waiting for them to pair off! We'll, hopefully! Then if i have one getting bullied or 2 i will put them in the 30g! No Discus now!
Krib