Discus

[Beesboer]

I have fallen in love with Discuses! I really want to get me a pair; they must be the most beautiful fish!
I have read rather a lot on the net about them. I just want to get some info from you guys.
Fist question, will the Discus do well with my other tank inhabitants (see signature)?
Second question, is it better to get 2 or more of them?

Thanks!!

 

[Beesboer]

Pls, can someone give me advice?

 

[Humbug]

Hi Mate,

Discus are beautiful fish but they are demanding, the water qualtiy that they expect is much higher than other tropicals.
In answer to your other questions they can be housed with other fish, but you have to be careful again. A large shoal of large cardinals is probably best as they can handle a bit of hassle from the discus and tolerate the same water conditions and they look great together.
What size is the tank? It would be best to start with a group of 5-6 juveniles if you have room, otherwise to pay for an established pair you are looking at serious money.

Humbug

 

[Beesboer]

My tank are 272L / 71G. Will they be compatible with my other tank inhabitants?

7 Neon Tetra's
3 Clown Loachies
3 Bronz Cory
2 Bala Sharks
2 Guppys
2 Khuli Loachies
1 Hillstream Loachies
1 Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)
1 White Spotted Ancisterus

 

[carppy]

yeah discus are compatable with most of the fish you mentioned..lose the beta for sure, he's too aggressive and will freak out the discus. And you'll have to cut back your fish population. Bala sharks get big and can be aggressive, loaches can get fairly large too. YOu know the fish population rule of thumb right.

1 gallon of water per inch of fish..your 70 gallon doesn't actually hold 70 gallons of water, you have to take account for decorations and gravel, so figure on about 55 gallons, maybe 60. Discus on their own need at least 10 gallons each of that 70 gallon tank to be happy. On their own in a tank they need at least 40 gallons for a bunch of young uns, or for 2 adult, you're best to judge based on their adult size

 

[teknikz]

a long long tank is also needed for discus as well apparently

 

[carppy]

discus need a large tank, long doesn't matter it could be square, they can live hapilly in an octagon..they just need plenty of room, top space is important because they are a tall fish.

 

[smb]

I would keep Discus as a species specific tank. The fish you have are too active and will stress the Discus out.

 

[Cian McLiam]

AMEN to that!
I would give them the space they need, twice as long as tall is a good start with a tank thats already tall. The extra water volume will make it more stable also. I wouldnt be thinking of the minimum you can keep them in, rather can you afford a tank big enough to keep some comfortably.

Ken

 

[KnuckleHead]

Dont even use that 1 inch of fish rule. That rule is $#@#. Yes it could be used for a few species of fish but there are way more species it doesnt work for. Discus are passive and need tank mates that are the same way. Are you prepared to do the higher maintenance required for keeping them? They are not hard to keep at all just need more regular maintenance.