What Dither With Discus?

[c-dub]

I have a 4 ft discus tank which I have recently set up but am looking at getting some kind of smaller species to go with them. Maybe a breed of tetra.

What are a good type of tetra you guys have found are good to keep in a more acidic tank and warmer temps of around 30C?

Here is the tank:

P.S. It's a little more planted now.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Personally I would go for larger Cardinals.

 

[c-dub]

That's what I was looking at doing but I didn't know how they would handle the heat. Cardinals are nearly 10 bucks each and I was hoping to go for around 20 of them. Ouch!

I can get 2cm ones off LiveFish.com.au for $5.63 though, might do that. Bothers me about ordering them from the other side of the country.

 

[Gourami123]

rummy noses are a natural alternative

or even cheaper neon tetra

 

[c-dub]

Was gonna lay away from the neon tetra as they're more delicate I hear

 

[rdp50734]

I have neon tetras, black neon tetras, and glowlights!

 

[c-dub]

I'm guessing they're not in 30 degree water though?

 

[typhoon]

i have glow lights in with my discus, ive got 20 of them and there at 30 degrees and perfectly fine and very active, have had cardinals and neons in past with other fish at around 28 and i dont think neither is hardier than the other if your waters right then its right no problems with either fish, if your keeping discus then i would say you shouldnt have any probs with either?

 

[rdp50734]

yes 30C all ok

 

[mattlee]

putting fish in higher temps may not effect them until later on in their life. alot of people use corys with discus with success but the corys only last a couple of years if lucky, sterbais seem to handle higher temps best of the corys but even 30oC is too hot for them. higher temps will reduce the life of the fish and altough they will appear healthy they just dont last longer than they could.....
this is why neons, glowlights and most tetras dont seem to last long apart from the risk of being eaten as they are smaller tetras. cardinal and rummynose tetas can handle higher temps and are that bit bigger so arent usually eaten unless very small examples are introduced to a tank with larger fish like discus.
i have a great group of gold and green striped corys that i might have to sell soon because they wont handle the high temps for long so i cant put them in with the discus. i know people that have kept them at this temp then wonder why they just die in a years time or so.....
in my eyes its not worth risking fish too far out of their comfort zone.
go for cardinals, nothing beats a good sized group of them and much better looking than neons too

 

[c-dub]

Yeah ok I might go cardinals then. Currently I have 2 discus and 2 bristlenose plecos.

 

[discus_lover]

you can keep neon and cardinal tetra and some cory as bottom feeder...

 

[c-dub]

^ I think I'll just keep the Bristlenose's as bottom feeders - even though I can NEVER see them because they're always in the darn driftwood!

I am going to buy about 10-15 cardinals this week I think and then maybe some rummynoses.

 

[mattlee]

^ I think I'll just keep the Bristlenose's as bottom feeders - even though I can NEVER see them because they're always in the darn driftwood!

I am going to buy about 10-15 cardinals this week I think and then maybe some rummynoses.

excellent choices

 

[c-dub]

No cardinals or rummynoses locally this month so I just bought 13 neon tetra and 5 penguin tetra!