Discus Aggression - Help Please!

[jnms]

Hi, I have had a discus for about 6 or 7 months now. He has got to about 5 or 6 inches in size, very healthy and nice.

I went a brought a new discus two days ago - which was probably a mistake - the old discus constantly chases the new one. Well I say constantly - but really it is only when he finds him. The new one hides away as the tank is fairly well planted, but he finds him every 10mins or so. He has even nipped his rear fin which is now a bit damaged.

Thing is the new discus' fins aren't overly clamped, and he is still eating. But clearly something needs to be done.

I spoke the the LFS and they won't accept the discus back, though they offered to take my large one and swap it for another small one. The idea being that then I would have two new discus in the tank with neither being territorial. It seems to me though, that the LFS get the better end of this deal...

Are there any other suggestions you guys have for dealing with discus aggression?

 

[Davo86]

Hi,
Discus should never be kept in numbers less than 5 (unless you have an established pair) for this very reason, In small numbers they will bully each other,

The lone Discus has been kept unnaturally and regards the whole tank as its territory, and so is obvioulsy going to act extra aggressive to a newcomer

 

[jnms]

Hi,
Discus should never be kept in numbers less than 5 (unless you have an established pair) for this very reason, In small numbers they will bully each other,

The lone Discus has been kept unnaturally and regards the whole tank as its territory, and so is obvioulsy going to act extra aggressive to a newcomer

Thanks for the reply Davo. I realise this is what has happened.

Do you have any advice for me dealing with this?

 

[Davo86]

Hi,
Discus should never be kept in numbers less than 5 (unless you have an established pair) for this very reason, In small numbers they will bully each other,

The lone Discus has been kept unnaturally and regards the whole tank as its territory, and so is obvioulsy going to act extra aggressive to a newcomer

Thanks for the reply Davo. I realise this is what has happened.

Do you have any advice for me dealing with this?

you can try re-introducing the old discus,
by removing him, re-decorating the tank, doing a small water change then reintroducing him to the 'new' tank.

This may work but in most cases only turns out to be a short term fix.

If it doesn't work then your two only other options would be to rehome one or add 2-3 more

 

[jnms]

Ok cheers. I will see about getting some additional decorations for the tank that may help.

Two other questions though if you don't mind:

1) Is there any chance at all that the bullying may eventually disappear?

2) At best I could only afford another ONE discus, would this make any difference?

 

[Davo86]

see how the re-introduction goes, if it doesn't work then the aggression may continue albeit less often.

by adding another Discus any aggression would be spread amongst them both, so in the long run may be better than having the one subject to it all.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Hi,
Discus should never be kept in numbers less than 5 (unless you have an established pair) for this very reason, In small numbers they will bully each other,

The lone Discus has been kept unnaturally and regards the whole tank as its territory, and so is obvioulsy going to act extra aggressive to a newcomer

Thanks for the reply Davo. I realise this is what has happened.

Do you have any advice for me dealing with this?

Get more Discus obviously...

Reintroducing the fish will do nothing. If you cannot afford to keep them both properly then you should probably get rid of them.

 

[jnms]

Ok, thanks for the replies.

So...now I am considering doing as the LFS suggest and swapping the large Discus. I've been down the LFS this afternoon and it looks as though I could swap the large one for 2 small ones. So not too bad. This puts me up to 3 discus.

Then next week I will just about to afford 1 more.

After that, it would be a gap of about 2 weeks before I could buy the fifth one.

So how does this sound? I am happy to do this, so long as it should work out ok...any thoughts?

 

[rabbut]

5 fish should be enough to quell the agression You want to be introducing two at a time if possible, as they will always give a very warm welcome to newcommers

 

[jnms]

5 fish should be enough to quell the agression You want to be introducing two at a time if possible, as they will always give a very warm welcome to newcommers

Thanks.

What is the maximum amount of time you would personally leave it between getting the 2 new discus, and then adding 2 more?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

5 fish should be enough to quell the agression You want to be introducing two at a time if possible, as they will always give a very warm welcome to newcommers

Thanks.

What is the maximum amount of time you would personally leave it between getting the 2 new discus, and then adding 2 more?

Normally it takes about a month before your fish completely setting in and make their place into the proper hierarchy. I think you should be alright leaving a week or two in between, just make sure you keep an eye on them.


BUT

no one has asked for a tank size yet. This could definitley play a role in aggression. How big is the tank?

 

[jnms]

It's a 200ltr tank.

Measurements, 39"(L) x 16" (W) x 18" (D) so it should be fine for a number of discus.

Though in honesty I have reached my stocking level regards other community fish:

2 Peal Gourami
2 Angel Fish
10 Neons
5 Bronze Cory's
1 Bristlenose
2 Discus

Some may say this is overstocked, but I have added the fish fairly slowly - and taken care with regards to fish type and size along with filtration capacity. It has worked very well, and the water parameters are perfect. However I agree the stocking levels may well be playing a roll in the current discus aggression, what's your thoughts?

Obviously if I am going to be adding more discus, then pretty much everything else will be going. I will only be keeping the Angels and the Bristlenose.

 

[petertr]

5 Discuss in a 200L tank - I wouldn't have anything other than the BN plec in there and I'd still consider it to be overstocked.


People say a 55G is the smallest tank you can put discus in.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

People say a 55G is the smallest tank you can put discus in.

It is.

It's a 200ltr tank.

Measurements, 39"(L) x 16" (W) x 18" (D) so it should be fine for a number of discus.

Though in honesty I have reached my stocking level regards other community fish:

2 Peal Gourami
2 Angel Fish
10 Neons
5 Bronze Cory's
1 Bristlenose
2 Discus

Some may say this is overstocked, but I have added the fish fairly slowly - and taken care with regards to fish type and size along with filtration capacity. It has worked very well, and the water parameters are perfect. However I agree the stocking levels may well be playing a roll in the current discus aggression, what's your thoughts?

Obviously if I am going to be adding more discus, then pretty much everything else will be going. I will only be keeping the Angels and the Bristlenose.

That should be fine if you are only keeping the angels and bn. Keep up with water changes (if the Discus are small at least twice a week, daily is preferred.)

 

[rabbut]

Bronze corries will melt if your keeping the tank warm enough for Discus and to prevent parasitic infections in said Discus

I agree that most of your stocking would have to go to keep a group of 5 in there

All the best
Rabbut