How Many Discus Can I Keep

[crackmonkey]

I have six Discus in a 53 Gallon tank and I was wondering how many could fairly go into my 40 Gallon, 2 - 3?

Bought what I thought were Figure Eights but It now looks like they're Ceylon puffers which grow to 6 - 8 inches so im thinking about putting them in my Discus tank.

 

[IMCL85]

You can fit all ur fish there if u want. It would do anything. An old rules of 10g per discus is not going to work if u ever take a look at ur local discus breeders tank. I have seem a 55 gallon tank hold 50+ 2"+ discus inside. And it should not be any problem for ur tank to hold 6 together but u have to do frequent water change tho like 50-70 percent every day. I was a bit lazy after I have my discus spawn which now I have some fry to play with so water I made was like once every 2-3 days. Its not simple to maintain soo many tank with school and partime job u know .







Cheer
Jack

 

[AmberC]

You can fit all ur fish there if u want. It would do anything. An old rules of 10g per discus is not going to work if u ever take a look at ur local discus breeders tank. I have seem a 55 gallon tank hold 50+ 2"+ discus inside. And it should not be any problem for ur tank to hold 6 together but u have to do frequent water change tho like 50-70 percent every day. I was a bit lazy after I have my discus spawn which now I have some fry to play with so water I made was like once every 2-3 days. Its not simple to maintain soo many tank with school and partime job u know .







Cheer
Jack

LFS always overstock because fish move in and out of those tanks so fast. I wouldn't go by what an lfs does. Those fish aren't in there long enough to have any damage done, but that many in a small tank for a long period of time WILL do damage.
I think I would take the puffers back and try to get the figure 8's. It would be the best option, besides getting another tank which is always good

 

[IMCL85]

I'm not talking about LFS discus and they are even wroser 20g tank with over 30+ 2" fry. I'm talking about my local breeder's tank . And the old rules of 10g per fish is really out dated. After the I visit one of my Local breeder he have stock of 8 discus about 5" in a 55 gallon that are ready to breed. And most tank he use to keep his pair is 20g even 15g. And as for him since his not breeding or anything there is no need for a big tank. Just enought to maintain about 6-7 gallon water per fish is really enought.

 

[annka5]

So, a breeder of discus, who no doubt changes 70% of the water each day and keeps his fish in bare bottomed tanks, after several years of expereince with these fish, allows 6 or 7 gallons each.
Yep, I can see why someone who keeps them as a hobby, probably does far more modest water changes, and uses a substrate and maybe even bogwood and plants, and likely has far less expereince with them than the average breeder should steer well clear of keeping them in 10 galls.
Honestly, I just don't think you should risk it, they're beautiful fish which should be allowed to grow to their full potential, and they'll only do that with a constant supply of lots of very clean water - IMO not feasible for the average hobbyist keeping 6 in a 40 gall tank. It would be possible in a bare-bottomed tank with lots and lots of water changes, but I just don't reckon thats likely for the average hobbyist.

 

[annka5]

A STRAIGHT ANSWER!
IMO, 6, but ONLY if you keep them in the 40 gallon with a bare bottom and do 50-70% ( I.E. 2 X 35%) water changes EVERY day.
Otherwise, none in your 40 gallon as they need to be in shoals. Keep them in your 53 or buy a new tank.

 

[Fella]

I can't tell from your post, but you're not planning on keeping Ceylons and Discus in the same tank are you?

 

[freddyk]

I was wondering how many could fairly go into my 40 Gallon, 2 - 3?

keeping them in such small numbers in smaller tanks makes things a little unpredictable. I imagine the best thing under the circumstances is to get about 4 or 5 juvis and when a pair forms remove the remainders. With a bit of luck the pair will keep the peace. But, because they naturally live in groups they are best be kept in groups, and a group simply won't work in a 40 gallon tank. So the only real straight answer is 0.