Fish To Keep With Discus

[discus dreamer]

Hi all
after a recent trip to Maidenhead Aquatics, while I was down South visiting my Dad, I am pretty sure that I am going to move my big tank over to discus (probably 4) if I can. I have been reading up on them and have identified a local source but am just wondering how many/which of my fish I can keep in the same tank with the higher temperature, opinions seem to vary.
My two silver sharks will obviously have to go back to the lfs but which of my other current fish do people think I could keep. I can do the sums re. stocking and I have spare capacity in another tank so it is more a question of which would be ok temperament and temperature wise.
2 khuli loaches
1 green pleco
1 siamese flying fox
15 neon tetras
2 pearl gouramis (both female)
2 blue rams (both male I think - I would like to get some females and divide the males and females between my two tanks)
5 glass catfish
2 silver hatchet fish

How lucky you people with a local Maidenhead Aquatics are - great stock and great staff!!

many thanks
DD

 

[DarkEntity]

Hi all
after a recent trip to Maidenhead Aquatics, while I was down South visiting my Dad, I am pretty sure that I am going to move my big tank over to discus (probably 4) if I can. I have been reading up on them and have identified a local source but am just wondering how many/which of my fish I can keep in the same tank with the higher temperature, opinions seem to vary.
My two silver sharks will obviously have to go back to the lfs but which of my other current fish do people think I could keep. I can do the sums re. stocking and I have spare capacity in another tank so it is more a question of which would be ok temperament and temperature wise.
2 khuli loaches
1 green pleco
1 siamese flying fox
15 neon tetras
2 pearl gouramis (both female)
2 blue rams (both male I think - I would like to get some females and divide the males and females between my two tanks)
5 glass catfish
2 silver hatchet fish

How lucky you people with a local Maidenhead Aquatics are - great stock and great staff!!

many thanks
DD

2 khuli loaches - Maybe dependant on size - small could mean food.
1 green pleco - No
1 siamese flying fox - No
15 neon tetras - Food
2 pearl gouramis (both female) - Dunno
2 blue rams - Yes
5 glass catfish - Yes
2 silver hatchet fish - Yes

Im not looking at water parameters, just fish that have a temprement suitable for Discus

 

[bugsy66]

What size is your tank?

 

[discus dreamer]

What size is your tank?

It's an Aqua One 39"x15"x22" (I chose one 22" deep because I thought I would like to get Discus at some point).
DD

 

[bugsy66]

How many gallons is that??

 

[discus dreamer]

How many gallons is that??

It's about 220 litres, don't know about gallons as I get confused between UK and US
DD

 

[Kazuya73]

All the reseach I've done on discus suggests that out of your list of fish;Flying Fox,Hatchets,Rams,and Neons will all be OK The rest ??

 

[bugsy66]

Hi, your tank is 58 US gallons.

This is my second attempt with Discus, the first one I lost due to lack of knowledge and I am still learning as we speak. I hope to not make the same mistakes as last time.

I have just found out though, the "only" safe pleco you can keep with Discus is the Bristlenose. I just returned my regular pleco last night for a bristlenose. My reg pleco was about 3" long so not that big yet and I would often see it trying to latch onto the side of the Discus. This is one thing about pleco's that will definatley kill your fish.

Another problem I had with my fist one was the Ottocinlas, I to found them the odd time attaching to the Discus.

I have seen flying fox in with Discus, IMO (in my opinion) I would not put them in there. They are quite active fish, don't do a whole lot for algae cleanup and are just to quick for this type of tank.

Cardinal Tetras
Rummynose Tetras
Neon Tetras
Hatchet Fish
Rams ???
Catfish
Bristlenose Pleco

These are the only fish I would ever put with Discus. A nice peaceful tank with some color too.

Bugsy....

 

[LisaLQ]

I've not had discus, but I do own plenty of plecs, and angels, and sevs, and have had various other cichlids in with them too. I have never seen a plec latch on to a fish. Are you sure you're not thinking of chinese algae eaters? They are notorious for doing that, but certainly not plecs.

The main reason why folks dont keep plecs with discus is because of water quality - plecs poo for England

 

[paulf]

I've not had discus, but I do own plenty of plecs, and angels, and sevs, and have had various other cichlids in with them too. I have never seen a plec latch on to a fish. Are you sure you're not thinking of chinese algae eaters? They are notorious for doing that, but certainly not plecs.

The main reason why folks dont keep plecs with discus is because of water quality - plecs poo for England

Some plecs do latch onto discus, I cant name types without looking, but have certainly heard of it happening within the uk Discus association. I keep an L204 and several bristlenoses with mine without any problems

 

[LisaLQ]

Hmm I think I may have to ask about that on the plec boards - never heard of that one Why only certain plecs and not others? Any links?

 

[paulf]

Hmm I think I may have to ask about that on the plec boards - never heard of that one Why only certain plecs and not others? Any links?

no idea, just going by what I have heard and been told, but I will also ask on a couple of discus forums in the morning and try and find out more

 

[Iron Man]

Its the larger sized and especially the common plecos that are notorious for sucking on fish. It is well known in the goldfish community not to put commons in with them or he will eventually kill the goldfish. I wondered was it true until I watched it happen with my sister's goldies. They wouldn't take the pleco out and he eventually sucked the scales off the fish and it died later. Whether out of shear stress of being chased constantly or infection or what I don't know that much.

The smaller plecos are said to be fine and never had problems with the "rubberlip" aka the "bulldog" pleco which is in that category. And bulldog plecos breed like MAD.

I loved the community setup bugsy suggested would be really beautiful if you don't go overboard on the number of each school.

 

[Iron Man]

Also....if you choose hatchet fish make sure the top is sealed or you will have dead dried up fish on your floor.

Edit: Sorry didn't see where you said that's what you already have.

Personally I really like some of the suggested fish bugsy posted.....this sounds good (to me)....

6 hatchetfish
4 discus (starting small, added last)
12 rummynose tetras
12 neon tetras
8 cories (with sand not gravel)
1 bristlenose or rubberlip pleco
lots and lots of trumpet snails

 

[DiscusAngel]

Hi all
after a recent trip to Maidenhead Aquatics, while I was down South visiting my Dad, I am pretty sure that I am going to move my big tank over to discus (probably 4) if I can. I have been reading up on them and have identified a local source but am just wondering how many/which of my fish I can keep in the same tank with the higher temperature, opinions seem to vary.
My two silver sharks will obviously have to go back to the lfs but which of my other current fish do people think I could keep. I can do the sums re. stocking and I have spare capacity in another tank so it is more a question of which would be ok temperament and temperature wise.
2 khuli loaches
1 green pleco
1 siamese flying fox
15 neon tetras
2 pearl gouramis (both female)
2 blue rams (both male I think - I would like to get some females and divide the males and females between my two tanks)
5 glass catfish
2 silver hatchet fish

How lucky you people with a local Maidenhead Aquatics are - great stock and great staff!!

many thanks
DD

MAIDENHEAD AQUATICS ARE FENOMENAL!

They help me ever so much and even when i ring them so say for instance my angel is dead what time are you open till he often says im driving past your house on ym way home ill drop in and take a look and i have say 4 angels left what colour would you like me to put back just incase he dies etc!

There great!

Beside the point,

i have 4 discus with 2 angels 4 keyholes 12 tetras and some plecs/catfish.

they all get along great angels and discus together are really good they are quiet funny as my male angel kinda wants to mate with one of my female discus haha!!!

Also smaller cichlids are good with discus like i have gone for keyholes. other fish like rams and kribs are good.

hope this helps.