discuss question

[collared_drifter]

are discuss generally aggresive or peaceful torwards fish like cardinalls or clown loaches or any smaller fish then them. will they eat them? or are they more peacful...

 

[Videl]

Discuss are generally peaceful fish. Although they grow quite large, they move quite slowly and gracefully. The Cardinals will do fine with them as they get to be aroung a little over 2 inches. Other fish like minnows and neons, i don't know ? Maybe they will be two small. But always remember, schooling fish feel more safe in numbers. Also, Cardinals and Discuss will do fine together considering the similar Ph these fish live in, around 7 to 6.5, slightly acidic. My LFS has a tank, probably over 70 gals and keeps a few discus and cardinals in their. Another fish shop has a big tabk containing clown loaches and discuss, so they will live peacfully together. Discuss won't do to well in tanks under 20 gallons though. So get a fairly big tank over 20 or 30 gallons (at the least) that is fairly planted, no nippy fish (if you keep a discus and any other long finned fish) and you won't have a problem? Are you planning on getting discuss and tetras, if so, Cardinals would be my favourite choice IMO.

 

[collared_drifter]

i plan on getting maybe three disuss i'd like them to all be different colors, one green, ond red, and one blueish, will they care or are they better off as just one single species. plus i thought that disuss could only be kept in tanks like 50 gallons... other wise i would have hod one a long time ago!!! well i just want lots of differnt fish that will make an onlooker go WOW.. so things like clowns, coolies, neons, cardinals, black skirts, corys, ect... just a big community. lots of color ful fish

 

[freddyk]

Well frankly, if the Discus doesn't make observers go 'wow', I don't see how any other additions can!

I strongly urge you to do as much research on these guys as you can. Use google, buy a book... but these basic quesions are something you should know if you plan on keeping them. The forum is best to discuss the finer points. Once you research you'll find that if you have three and two pair off, the third will probably get beaten. You'll find they are best as a compatible pair or a decent sized group. They are not outwardly aggressive, but can be amongst themselves. They are also very finicky about water quality, so understocking is a must. Go with just one species of shoaling fish and give them a decent group. Do the same for the bottom dwellers. As far as the 'wow factor' is concerned, stocking in this manner has a greater effect anyway. Make sure your stocking levels and your maintenance routine result in pristine water. They do not tolerate the nitrates that most tropicals do.

 

[collared_drifter]

thanks, i have bought a book that has alot of handy info on them, plus im kind of iffy about them, i mean, 25 percent water changes all the time is no prob, but you see, im thirteen, and my mom doesnt like that i spend so much money keeping fish healthy.... ) but what can you do when somone dosent understand so i might go with somthing else like just a really long 50 or 40 gal tank FULL OF CORYS AND LOACHES ONLY!
BUT there a store near me that sells discuss that are about 1 and a half inches for 9 dollers!!! and they look very healthy too. i'd rather buy smaller younger discuss. do you think 9 dollers for pretty much any color disuss (red, turquois, orange, blue, green, white, and purple) for 9 bucks is a good deal?