Discus

[Perky]

Would three Discus be alright with:
A Common Plec
A BGK
A Spiny Eel
A L075 Plec
3 Clown Loach
3 Silver Sharks
The tank is a 55 Gallon Bowfront and I do water changes every week. I heard they may need water changes every 4 days and I will do this if I have to. At my LFS they have 3 Discus for £50 so I will either get 3 or 6. All info on Discus and if they will be ok needed.
Nearly forgot. Tank has been set-up 4 months and has driftwood, rocks and plants to provide shade. Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates <10. Ph is 6.8 - 7(It is a bit of both on my Ph test. Probably 6.9). Like I said. All info is appreciated.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Perky

There is no rule for water changes. The best thing to do is pick up a nitrate tester. Discus are delicate, and can't take the levels that most freshwater fish can. You need to do as many waterchanges as it takes to keep them under 15 or so.

I usually recommend keeping Discus in species, or nearly species tanks if you have no experience with them. As to whether they are compatible with your fish, the plecos are fine, I don't know about the others, but someone will be along shortly to help you out.

 

[plecoguy]

i would not recommend 3 discus! one will get picked on most likely.

 

[Perky]

How many should I go for then. I don't mind the cost of the fish. I was saving up for about 5 Zebra Plecs but I bought a BGK and am now afraid he will eat them. How many Discus?

 

[Doggfather]

6-8 young discus are a good idea, since you then have the joy of watching them pair off...i'm not sure about the bala sharks with them though, the discus might shy away becuase the bala's are leapers, and energetic fish

 

[phoenix]

I would go with a species only tank for them. with the exception of the bottomfeeders you listed. they should be fine with the plecs and clown loaches you mentioned. A friend of mine raises them and thats what he has in his tank..

 

[Perky]

I already have the Silver Sharks. They will go back though when they get to 10 inches plus though (Mum wanted them or I was not allowed a tank so she bought a tank that would be no good for there whole life ). The Silver Sharks are also not very skittish. They are only skittish when you try looking for them when they are hiding. They sort of hide behind a leaf and I will move so I can see them and then they dart of and that is it. I don't think they are as skittish as a lot of the fish I have. The Common Plec who is boss in the tank is more scared than the Sharks. That leaves the BGK, 2 Plecs, Clown Loach and Spiny Eel. All of these are bottom feeders. The thing I want is a fish that is diurnal and would be a challenge so I thought I would try Discus. I am only stating the truth. Now do you think it won't be as bad.

 

[EMdina]

What temp do your current fish require...because that is also something to consider...Discus need warm water...will your current fish be suited for that?
I have in, recent months, after tons of reading, bought a few juvie Discus...I keep them with Rams...I have read a lot about them and the 'best' way to keep them is either in a species tank or tank with calm fish from the same region (same water requirements). Granted, take everything written with a grain of salt...but collectively, the things I've read all seemed to agree on those issues...including the water requirements...I had a school of Rummy Nose Tetras in there when I bought the Discus and I brought the school back to the LFS last weekend because they were just too chaotic for the Discus...since I returned them , the Discus are out all of the time...
It seems like you've done some reading up and you're gathering information- if you feel that your tank is an appropriate environment given the info that you have, than go for it. If you have the slightest reservation, than I would not do it...of course take that for what it's worth... Not only would it be a loss of a little fishy life, but it could mean some $$$$ lost also...Discus are not inexpensive!
Anyway, good luck!
Ericka

 

[Perky]

The Ph is about 6.8- 7 (Ph tester is in between). That is Ok. The fish in there are not skittish except the odd occasion a Silver Shark feels like he s being watched and disappears to the other side of the tank. Should be fine. Tank has 5 plants at the moment which are three broad leved and two plants that grow up and out so they provide shade and cover and I am getting more plants soon (No worry of snails because of Clown Loach). The only other fish I may get are a Black Lancer(Type of Catfish) and maybe any other unusual fish that won't hurt my fish (I like oddballs) and are not very active. I have a huge piece of driftwood that is home to my Common Plec and various other fish will sleep there if they want. Also got some caves that are home to my BGK, Spiny Eel and Clown Loach who all sleep together during the day with only the occasional argument which lasts a minute then they are all friends again. I also addded some thing into my filter (forgot the name) but it helps stop nitrates going up and stops lumps of stuff going back into the tank (think it maybe bio-spira or something similar). I also am getting a test kit soon because my parents always thought there was no point because my LFS does it for free but I have pursuaded them that what happens if LFS is closed for a week and we have a problem. Then what do we do. I think I will give it a go and if it fails I will try in a species tank in the future but it should work out fine.