Discus

[mrelson101]

im looking to buy a few discus for my 240l tank but im lookin for some advice as never kept these before, first off how many could i have in this tank? what sort of price will i be looking to pay for young ish ones, also is there anything else ill need to know about these before i go and buy some anything they need prefer etc etc, any help will be great thanks all.

 

[bagu]

where i live, £30 each.
I heard that they need superb water quality.
and possibly 4-6 discus, not 100% sure
i also think they need a slightly higher water temp.

Good luck!

bagu

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

im looking to buy a few discus for my 240l tank but im lookin for some advice as never kept these before, first off how many could i have in this tank? what sort of price will i be looking to pay for young ish ones, also is there anything else ill need to know about these before i go and buy some anything they need prefer etc etc, any help will be great thanks all.

These are actually New World Cichlids, just so you know.

A group of 5 Discus is normally the minimum you would want to have. Prices will vary depending on where you live, but I wouldn't put young guys into a planted tank. Young guys will need to be grown out in a bare bottom where the tank can be cleaned much better and much easier.

They do prefer to be fed quite often (juveniles at least 3 times a day, some people feed them 4-6 times though.) Adults will need to be fed a minimum of twice a day.

Remember to keep the tank warm. 28-30C is the range they will need to be kept in!

What kind of tank mates will they be with? Quite a few fish are not suitable to mix with Discus.

 

[mrelson101]

when im ready to buy them i want my tank heavily planted and ill have 2 angels 4 clown loaches and 2 plecs thats it i think i need to learn alot mor about these before i buy tbh anyone know where i can find out everythin i need to know?

 

[rabbut]

Discus are an Advanced Species. This isn't because they are hard to keep, rather they are high-maintanance. Jivis will need lots of large regular waterchanges, with adults needing a large one weekly. By large I mean 50%... They need to be kept at temperatures that will melt many fish and need a largely varied diet of both frozen, fresh and prepaired foods. You will never get enough research off a forum alone, and they need a 6+ month old tank. Make the most of the 6 month wait, and use it researching. People who fail to research them thuroghly tend to have the tank go over and then they tend to get a bit ignorant. It is such keepers that are the source of them being "hard to keep" as they don't realise that their mistakes led to the fishes dimise

What plecs do you have? Many will latch onto Discus for the Slime Coat. Some dispute weather Clown Loach and Angles are compatible tank mates also, so if you are playing it safe, you may well have to remove most of the current stock...

If you are putting them into a planted tank, you will have to buy adults at about £100 each for good ones round here... You need a minimum group of 5...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[mrelson101]

ok thanks for all the help and advice i have a common plec and a rusty plec also i think i might have a large school of angels now as alot cheaper i think lol u can still get a wide range of colour from angels though cant you? that is mainly what im looking for if im honest something colourful and something nice to look at.

 

[rabbut]

Aye, loads of colourful angels veriaties available. Koi are worth a look, and can be very varied...

Common Plecs have been known to latch to larger fish, so is something to watch for. With the potential to get to 18", well, I'd look to re-home... I know rusties got to about 12", but do they latch also? Pass

All the best
rabbut

 

[mrelson101]

thanks for all the help rabbut my plecs are very timmed tbh done seem to worry about any of the other fish i think i will look into the angels but first i want to get my tank planted but need to rehome my sharks and redtailed tin foil barbs which are going soon.