Discus

[Trebor66]

Hello IAM new to this site gone back to tropical fish after 40 years of keeping a tropical marine reef tank going to try keeping discus fish it's the one fish I've never kept any advice welcome

 

[gwand]

My first advice is to use punctuations. Don’t tax the reader.

 

[GaryE]

Discus are just larger, sensitive fish. They need space, warm water and a rigid scheduled system of water changes. They don't do well if we let things slide.
You'd probably get more responses with direct questions, as it's a large subject. So much depends on how you set up, where you get the fish, what previous experience you have, etc.

 

[Magnum Man]

sounds like the OP, and myself are similar...I always wanted to try Discus as well, and still haven't devoted a tank for them...

as someone who has never owned a Discus, I'm starting to wonder if being "the gold standard" has most people afraid... they are expensive, but if you can successfully run reef tanks, you have what it takes to do things right, and have the money to buy fish... I'm guessing they are easier to keep than one would expect, with normal ( good ) practices... I was surprised at a pet shop picture that @gwand ... posted the other day, with a powder blue gourami, and Discus in the same tank... I never would have put those two in the same tank, even temporary, in a fish store selling fish??? I have a 250 gallon, that I'll be setting up, when I find time, and that was always going to be for Discus, however there are just so many interesting fish out there, the Discus my not make it in that tank as well...

 

[anewbie]

They like warm water and there are few acceptable tank-mates; they are sensitive - DO NOT OVER STOCK - i recommend one discus per 30 gallon of water so a 180 would have 6 discus. DO NOT FEED THEM MEAT - beef heart and other meat products are not good food for them and it pollutes the water.

They do like live worms which i suppose it meat of some sort....

 

[Innesfan]

If I understand your post, you've had freshwater fish before your 40 year stint with marines? If so, a lot has changed since then regarding Discus care and I suggest doing some homework on the subject. I agree with the advice that my colleagues have offered so far. Heat, space and WATER CHANGES.