Discus

[Bebobb]

Bump.

 

[MBOU]

Dont stock heavily and keep bare bottomed, once the tank is mature you can just do one water change a week, more than that is just fussing them! Or shallow gravel or better still, sand and lots of plants. There is no reason for doing loads of water changes if your water quality is ok, only do water changes when they are needed or at least weekly because i find (and as do a lot of people) that discus just stress out and dont like water changes.

 

[Bebobb]

I've been reading around and figured out that they don't like larger water changes, so I thought that maybe 2 smaller ones would be better. I think that I will do 2 25% weekly water changes rather thatn 1 50% weekly water change. From what I understand, one of the only things that make discus hard to take care of is the water changes. What are some other tetras besides Cardinals that are good discus tank mates?

 

[discus_lover]

yes absolutely tetras are the good tank mate along with discus fish....
There are many tetra sp. that are compatible with discus fish.they are:

Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)
Black Phantom Tetra(Megalamphodus megalopterus)
Bleeding Heart Tetra(Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma)
Cardinal Tetra(Cheirodon axelrodi)
Columbian Tetra (Hyphessobrycon columbianus)
Diamond Tetra(Moenkhausia pittieri)
Emperor Tetra(Nematobrycon palmeri)
Glowlight Tetra(Hemigrammus eryhthrozonus)
Green Fire Tetra (Aphyocharax rathbuni)
Jewel Tetra(Hyphessobrycon callistus)
Lemon Tetra(Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis)
Penguin tetra(Thayeria boehlkei)
Rosy Tetra(Hyphessobrycon bentosi)
Rummy-Nose Tetra(Hemigrammus bleheri)
Rummy-Nose Tetra(Petitella georgiae)

and go through this link...
http/discusfishcaresecrets.blogspot.com/2009/11/compatible-fish-with-discus-fish_05.html

 

[Bebobb]

Thanks for the help! Would 2 25% water changes be better than 1 50% water change weekly?

 

[discus_lover]

ya i prefer that....

 

[Bebobb]

This seems to be looking eaiser and eaiser! Is there anything that I really need to be aware of?

 

[Bebobb]

Okay, so I have just read that a breeding pair will cost me upto $300! And I am NOT going to pay that much for them! So, would 3 or 4 be okay in my 40 gallon?

 

[discus_lover]

conventional rule say that you can provide 10 gallon per adult discus.so for a 40 gallon tank you can easily keep 4 adult discus...

 

[Bebobb]

Okay. That's what it's going to be, then. But how would agression be?

 

[discus_lover]

i think once adult discus set up in your aquarium they will show no aggression...

 

[roadmaster]

yes absolutely tetras are the good tank mate along with discus fish....
There are many tetra sp. that are compatible with discus fish.they are:

Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi)
Black Phantom Tetra(Megalamphodus megalopterus)
Bleeding Heart Tetra(Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma)
Cardinal Tetra(Cheirodon axelrodi)
Columbian Tetra (Hyphessobrycon columbianus)
Diamond Tetra(Moenkhausia pittieri)
Emperor Tetra(Nematobrycon palmeri)
Glowlight Tetra(Hemigrammus eryhthrozonus)
Green Fire Tetra (Aphyocharax rathbuni)
Jewel Tetra(Hyphessobrycon callistus)
Lemon Tetra(Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis)
Penguin tetra(Thayeria boehlkei)
Rosy Tetra(Hyphessobrycon bentosi)
Rummy-Nose Tetra(Hemigrammus bleheri)
Rummy-Nose Tetra(Petitella georgiae)

and go through this link...
http/discusfishcaresecrets.blogspot.com/2009/11/compatible-fish-with-discus-fish_05.html

I have found that many of the tetra species with exception of cardinals and rummy nose don't appreciate the warm waters that discus enjoy. Have kept discus that ignored cardinals and rummies and have also seen my Discus kill both. Most of the tetra species enjoy much cooler water than the 82 to 84 degrees that most keep Discus in.
Clown loaches as mentioned at link above,can often times cause considerable stress to Discus by their constant swimming and rooting around especially during the evening when Discus are resting.
Corydoras are another fish that with the exception of Sterbai corydoras ,do much better at cooler temps than they do at warmer temps. Warmer water speeds up motaboloisim of fishes such as corys and tetras and shortens lifespan.
When discus are smaller than four inches, most expierienced keepers offer these fish several small feedings per day of foods high in protein to ensure proper development/Growth.
These frequent feedings mean frequent water changes to keep toxins at zero.
Water changes also provide/replace minerals and are necessary for the young fish to grow.
Adult discus don't need the levels of protein that young fish do for growth and twice a day feedings and weekly water change might be sufficient. But for young fish, I would be changing 40 to 50 percent of the water three times a week minimum with three to four feedings per day. In my expierience with these fish ,to do otherwise can often result in stunted,sick fish. Opinions Vary.

 

[roadmaster]

i think once adult discus set up in your aquarium they will show no aggression...

Discus are Cichlids and as such, may or may not become aggressive towards each other. Some don't some do. I tried to keep six juveniles in 80 gal tank. They were blue cobalt, snake skin,red turquoise,and red Marlboro. The Blue cobalt and Red turquoise would not leave the red marlboro alone and began inflicting damage to the fins of the Marlboro to the point that I had to remove the fish being picked on to another tank. Perhaps if all of them would have been of one species or variety ,problems would not have presented themselves.
Point is, they are capable of being quite aggressive when they feel like it.

 

[roadmaster]

This seems to be looking eaiser and eaiser! Is there anything that I really need to be aware of?

Try and get fish from Breeder if possible and choose healthy fish. Find out what water conditions the fish have been kept in along with foods that they are eating.
Acclimate the fish SLOWLY to your tank.

 

[Bebobb]

I know of a breeder in my area. And if they don't have any when I ask, then I will go to a fish store that specializes in cichlids. But it will be another month or two before I get my discus.