55 gallon stocking

[Oli]

My local fish store has a fully grown single discus in one of its tanks? I know they are best kept in groups, but as thin one is isolated already, could that work?

 

[Byron]

My local fish store has a fully grown single discus in one of its tanks? I know they are best kept in groups, but as thin one is isolated already, could that work?

No. Alone, the fish is in a situation it does not understand. Scientific studies have now shown that shoaling fish (like this one) when denied the group show a marked tendency to become aggressive. They are also afraid to eat (termed a latency to feed). While some will argue this doesn't matter, I have a more humane approach to keeping fish. Regardless of the situation it is now in, there is no help in your acquiring it, with or without the likely risks. We have had other threads in the past about members thinking they are being kind to the fish, but if one cannot provide what the fish expects it is anything but kindness. Fish do not change these expectations, because they are part of the genetic makeup of the species.

 

[Oli]

Cool, I’ll keep to the cardinal tetras for the time being the.

 

[Oli]

rosé - ロゼ on Instagram: "It is not always impossible for two kinds of sharks to coexist or betta to coexist with them. it will be possible, if we have a lot of aquatic plants, driftwood and a large body of water. that way, we can give them enough ter

15K likes, 133 comments - keyrose_kei9 on August 20, 2022: "It is not always impossible for two kinds of sharks to coexist or betta to coexist with them. it will be possible, if we have a lot of aquatic plants, driftwood and a large body of water. that way, we can give them enough territory so...

www.instagram.com

This guys doing what I couldn’t, keeping large Congo tetras with cardinal tetras and some rainbow sharks as well!

 

[Byron]

rosé - ロゼ on Instagram: "It is not always impossible for two kinds of sharks to coexist or betta to coexist with them. it will be possible, if we have a lot of aquatic plants, driftwood and a large body of water. that way, we can give them enough ter

15K likes, 133 comments - keyrose_kei9 on August 20, 2022: "It is not always impossible for two kinds of sharks to coexist or betta to coexist with them. it will be possible, if we have a lot of aquatic plants, driftwood and a large body of water. that way, we can give them enough territory so...

www.instagram.com

This guys doing what I couldn’t, keeping large Congo tetras with cardinal tetras and some rainbow sharks as well!

The problem with sites like this one is that they are misleading, especially to beginning aquarists. I can read this and know well enough to ignore it, but that is because I have spent years researching fish species and physiology. There are often exceptions to the norm in a fish of "x" species, but it is not wise to think the exceptions and not the norm will apply in every similar case. And, while he may think it is "working" now, it may suddenly change, and sometimes even overnight. Just on this forum we have had more than a few threads where the individual went contrary to the norm claiming the fish were "happy," only to come back a few weeks later with the news that what some of us warned had occurred.

I still don't understand the Congo/cardinal problem. A video of the behaviour might clue one of us in to the issue.

 

[Oli]

I’m aware that Instagram has no reliable information, simply pointing out a cool video of what I tried to achieve! Looks great for sure.

The Congo tetras have already been rehomed. I witnessed them basically “knocking out” the cardinals during feeding time. It looked like their boisterous behaviour around food was cause accidental damage to the cardinals. They would later go back and pick at it once they saw it floating around the tank unresponsive. It’s a real shame, they were absolutely beautiful and I have no idea what could fill the gap, but it became less therapeutic dealing with dead bodies all the time

 

[Byron]

Shame, but as the Congos are no more, the Bleeding Heart Tetra (Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma) in a group of 10-12 would make a colourful centerpiece. The species mentioned in my earlier post are still contenders with these.

 

[Oli]

As conflicting as this sounds, what would you think about adding another adult angelfish.

It is contradictory, because like I say I rehomed my pair of Angelfish because when I added my cardinals, they went after them immediately.

I have however read that this is because my pair saw the tank as their own territory. Apparently adding angelfish after cardinals could work out? I know this is a risk, but what would you think of now adding a single adult angelfish to the tank as a centrepiece?

 

[Byron]

As conflicting as this sounds, what would you think about adding another adult angelfish.

It is contradictory, because like I say I rehomed my pair of Angelfish because when I added my cardinals, they went after them immediately.

I have however read that this is because my pair saw the tank as their own territory. Apparently adding angelfish after cardinals could work out? I know this is a risk, but what would you think of now adding a single adult angelfish to the tank as a centrepiece?

My first reaction repeats what I posted concerning the lone discus. I would never maintain an angelfish alone; it needs a group, or a bonded pair. It is just not fair to the fish.

Angelfish should never be housed with small linear fish. They can be OK with disk-shaped fish, but the slender linear fish are too tempting as food. Add to that the territory issue which I do agree with, and the cardinals would not stand much chance.

 

[Oli]

Ahhh such a shame, but I only want what’s best for the fish! So difficult trying to get the perfect tanks, it’s constantly changing.

I just feel like something bigger is missing. The cardinals looks amazing and there is so many of them, but it feels like there needs to be some bigger fish gliding past the front of the tank peacefully every now and then. I have no idea where to go from here. I’ve thought about denison barbs, angelfish, rainbowfish, rainbow sharks, discus.

I’m beginning to regret getting rid of my angelfish. I miss having a large personality in the tank, nothing seems compatible

I have already spent so much time and money filling the tank with 50-60 cardinals. I guess it just stays like this until I’m ready to start again.

 

[Oli]

Since removing my female gourami, the male has completely lost his orange throat area, he seems sluggish and sad and is glass surfing.

I’m so devastated.

I feel like I should have kept my two angelfish. They were the first fish I ever had and I just tossed them away to focus on cardinal tetras. I raised them and got them into a pair and had them for so long.

Now I have a crazy amount of cardinal tetras who don’t seem to be compatible with anything interesting, and a miserable, lonely gourami.

I have no idea where to go from here. I loved my angels and I loved my Congo tetras and I just Kept wasting money and giving away my favourite fish because I was obsessed with how cardinals look. Don’t get me wrong, the tank looks cool with so many cardinals, but there is an element of personality missing, and I am in no financial position to start again.

I guess it’s my own fault, but I feel like I’ve thrown away years of work for a bunch of cardinals that aren’t doing it justice.

Anyway just wanted to vent haha

 

[KiwiGal77]

The only way to learn what you truly like or don't like in life is to give things a try and see - so don't feel bad, even though it hasn't worked out as you hoped this time, it's given you lots of insight into the direction you want to go in the future


I haven't read your previous posts, so apologise in advance if you've already had these fish suggestions and there's a reason you don't think they will work...

What about a single or pair of Bolivian Rams? I wouldn't think the Gourami would have an issue as they generally occupy different areas of the tank, and they are gorgeous decent sized fish with cool pesonalities.

Also have you looked at the still small but deeper bodied tetras and rasboras for a secondary small school of say 10? Harlequin Rasboras have a nice coour and pattern, and apparently Lemon Tetras look great once in a comfortable environment and the yellow would stand out nicely against the gourami and cardinals.

 

[itiwhetu]

Discus need friends.

 

[Colin_T]

My local fish store has a fully grown single discus in one of its tanks? I know they are best kept in groups, but as thin one is isolated already, could that work?

Actually, research done in 2008 found that discus only group up during the dry season and do it for protection.

During the wet season they disband and go off on their own. Occasionally they are found in pairs or small groups (up to 6) but normally during the wet, they are on their own.

the discus fish Symphysodon - SciELO - M.MOAM.INFO

Dec 22, 2008 - of the lake hosting more than a thousand discus. Only 16 of the 41 ..... ing free-swimming B. cichlae wit...

moam.info

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If you ever want to buy discus, do not buy big adult discus and don't buy little baby ones. The big fish stress out when moved and don't travel well. They also cost a lot more than a medium sized fish, which will travel better and stress less.

Baby fish and small discus (under 2 inches diameter) are usually starving when they get to the shops and suffer huge losses due to stress and lack of food.

The best size to buy discus is 3-4 inches in diameter. The fish have enough body weight not to lose condition at the importers or shops, and they travel better.

 

[itiwhetu]

My guys were 2-3 inches when I got them, they are brothers and sisters and I think the way they react with each other has something to do with that, they are very protective of each other which is really cool.