Dicuss Advice

[Braddah]

So I sold all of the chiclids I got in my adopt a tank to my LFS...they can also order me discuss...now will i have enough room in a 20 gal. for 2?? and if so what kind of parameters do they need to be healthy???

 

[smb]

You are in for quite a task.

Discus need perfect water params and I know a couple discus keepers that change their water 20% twice a day.

I'm not saying this is how it has to be done but letting you know that you really have to pay attention to water params, even more so than with other cichlids.

I don't want to discourage you from keeping a fish you like, but personally, I would put in 5-10 years of experience with cichlids before you try discus.

There are a few that have had less years and been successful, but it's not the norm, imo.

I hope you don't take offense as I'm just trying to be honest.

 

[Braddah]

no offense taken...I would rather have someone say that than me spend $30 a fish and have them die on me...also Im in the navy and am gone 3 months out of every 6 so i would have to teach my girlfriend how to take care of them and if she let one die she would be devestated so I dunno......

 

[smb]

Well, first let me say thank you for being in the Navy and sacrificing your life and lifestyle to protect us here. It's a huge commitment that too often goes unnoticed and isn't appreciated as much as it should be. I can say it's not unnoticed or underappreciated by me and those that I know. It's just as hard for your girlfriend also, so let her know we say thank you, also. Please be safe and thank you for what you do.

Secondly, that was just my opinion that I gathered from other people having discus. I've never kept them and maybe someone that has kept them can be more specific and even have a different story than I gave you. So there's still hope. We just need to give them time to post maybe.

 

[CFC]

A 20 gallon tank is not big enough to keep two adult discus in,the minimum tank you could get away with is 40 gallon IMO.Discus get quite large (around 8" diameter) and need to be fed large ammounts of food to remain healthy,as said by SMB they need perfect water quality at all times and you will find it very difficult to keep the nitrates down in a 20 gallon tank,you would need to be doing water changes at least once a day and maybe twice.
As suggested try to start out with some smaller easier to care for cichlids,there are many dwarf cichlid species which have stunning colours and are more suitable for a 20 gallon tank,take a look at some of the Appistogramma species if your interested.

 

[Braddah]

I already have angels that seem to be getting along rather well...My first angel was killed by a dojo loach...crazy...then i was given 2 about a month ago and just added 2 more on tues....I agree though 20g are very easy to mess up water parameters....I dunno...And thanx fo the compliment SMB

 

[Braddah]

so yeah I did some reseach and decided that at this time Discus r not for me but I still have tis empty 20 with like a pleco--(just a temp home) a gourami and 2 oto's....I dont know...The for the suggestion of Appistogramma but they look to much like regular chiclids...I just sold 6 of them...I dunno call me wierd but im just not a fan...I like ugly fish to tell u the truth ...I guess Ill just have to go look around...but maybe Ill make the 20 into a swamp type tank??? get some firebellied toads and newts and my ADF's...hmmmm...Thank you all for helping me not kill a fish!

 

[crimsontsavo]

dadblastit.
now ya got me going,hehe.
Okay, why dont you add a waterfall to your swamp scene?
All it takes is a small pump (like for table top fountains) a few rocks, some cement...get creative a viola!...

(make your waterfall out of cement and your rocks,make sure to leave enough space for your pump to fit nicely inside.)

Get a glass seperator, make part of your tank terrestrial and part of it aquatic.
(using aquarium sealant)

Plant all sorts of carnivorous plants...

In the aquatic part, add a neat water scene.Pop in a few mosquito fish...or even a BETA!....this could get out of hand, my juices are flowing LOL.
Your girlfriend might even like this!

 

[Braddah]

-Crimson....great stuff...I just did a rough draft of the "swamp"...Its nowhere near to being done but I really like the waterfall idea! B) cool stuff....

 

[crimsontsavo]

Glad ya liked it!

 

[Braddah]

Crimson what part of Fla???

 

[impur]

Try some mudskippers in there. They are ugly but very neat little guys.