Discus And Pleco

[Jamesham]

Just a quick question:

is a discus ok with a pleco. i think i read somewhere that the discus have mucus on them and plecos suck it off.

help please

 

[thegnu]

"A" discus isn't alright with any fish, they like to be in groups of at least 4.
some people keep them with discus and have no problems, some do have problems!

 

[timmystood]

I would say a Discus and Plec are absolutley fine.

 

[paul_219]

I say no they will not be fine together.

 

[Jamesham]

I say no they will not be fine together.

any reasons?

 

[timmystood]

I've plenty of experience of L Number Plecs and Discus kept together.

 

[jayjay]

Well do go on Timmy, what L numbers, what size tanks, number of fish, size of fish.

I'd say no, the plecs will make to much waste and you will be forever cleaning to keep the water, up to standard for discus.

 

[prankster705]

plecs sometimes like to suck on the thick mucus the discus have (ideal food for them, just waiting on those big slow moving discs... (as you can imagine something sucking on them causes the discus considferable stress))... I wouldn't risk it... some plecs are supposed to be "safe" though...

 

[cheesy feet]

Ok before i was saying go for it on another post but i juat had an experience which has changed my mind One of my plecs decided to try and eat one of my discus,don't do it ,it will eventually happen!

Ps-discus is recovering
ps-what does ps mean i always see it as an extra bit of info...

 

[LisaLQ]

Ps means post script, as in an afterthought whilst writing.

I've never noticed any of my plecs sucking on my flat sided fish, but I dont keep discus. Apparently the main offenders are gold nuggets as the slime coat is similar to the slime they eat off rocks etc.

Personally, although you hear horror stories, I'm sure if the plecs were fed a decent diet they wouldn't bother with sucking on discus, my plecs much prefer a nice piece of courgette. I'll bet it's those who are expected to live of tank scuzz/thin air rather than real food that have a bit of a chew.

 

[jayjay]

Lisa, though if you go on holiday or something, it would likely happen then in that case, when they aren't fed and also there won't be someone there to split them up.

My main point would still be the huge mess plecs make.

 

[MojoDex]

not all plecs make huge mess though as not all plecs grow huge to be fair ive never kept discus so cant comment on that but i wouldnt think that a plec like say a bristle nose would be bad for water quality

 

[jayjay]

It wouldn't be as bad for water quality as a large plec, no. It will still make more waste than most fish recommended to be keep with discus. Also the person who's topic it is, owns 2 common plecs, so yeah, not BN's.

 

[MojoDex]

sorry didnt read his stock list in his sig my bad lol

 

[LisaLQ]

Lisa, though if you go on holiday or something, it would likely happen then in that case, when they aren't fed and also there won't be someone there to split them up.

My main point would still be the huge mess plecs make.

Totally agree on the mess part - that's why I chose not to go for discus for my new tank (and the fact that I'm not getting it any more LOL).

I see your point about the hols, although I guess I didn't think of that when I posted, as I've not been on my hols for years *sob* (all donations and offers of babysitting welcome lol)...

But TBH, I'd arrange for someone to feed my fish while I was away!