Discus

[Rdelusion]

I've been looking for some fish for my new set up and have fallen in love with some nice Discus that would be the central focus in my tank but I'd like to check with you guys first are there any fish that I should not mix with these ones?

The musts for my new tank will include,

4 or 5 sterbia cory's
2 clown plecs
1 gold nugget plec

And hopefully if it doesn't clash to much a RTBS.

- Thx.

 

[Nidge]

Discus dont like to be stressed much at all.
All the fish would be suitable except for the RTB shark that would be a big no no for sure.
If your thinking of getting discus be very sure you have enough info on them.
They get stressed very easily. The slightest change in water quality will stress them. Cian McLiam in this forum keeps them and if you PM him im sure he will give you better advice than me.

 

[ryan]

Personally I would add a group of Tetras like Cardinal Tetras (Paracheirodon axelrodi) or Rummy Nosed Tetras (Hemigrammus bleheri) and maybe some Apistogrammas.

 

[David]

Never keep plecs with the Discus. they are attracted to the mucus excreted from the Discus' skin (the stuff their fry feed on) and they will often attach to the Discus with their sucker mouth and eventually kill them.

 

[Rdelusion]

Thx david!

The plecs are a must for my new tank as they are my favourite so I'll just have to find a new big central group of fish.

 

[David]

ok I'm glad a possible crisis has been averted *phew*

It would be such a shame to lose Discus in that way as they are such a beautiful and not to mention expensive fish

 

[ryan]

I'd disagee on the Plec front, for large Plec species like Common and Gibbiceps this is the case David, but for smaller species which have a more meat based diet like Golden Nuggets it is a good combination and I know of it working well, some other Plecs that can be used are Zebra Plecs L046, Leopard Frog Plecs L134......

 

[Lateral Line]

Loaches are not suitable tank mates for discus, they are not happy with the higher temperatures, and thus lower Oxygen levels required by discus. As already said, Rummy Noses and the like are appropriate dither fish for discus.

I also agree that many of the small plecs are quite suitable for discus tanks.

 

[David]

Well fine but don't blame me if your discus end up dead... I wouldn't take the risk if I were you.

 

[elgecko]

I've heard several horror stories with plecs and discus, so I would suggest no plec.

 

[Lateral Line]

The 'net is full of stories, hey, aliens ate my hamster last night...

Don't believe all you read. Be particulaly careful of stories that start with something like, "I read on the 'net", or "I heard from a newsgroup".

I could say now that "Neons ate my hamster", and with the speed of the net, in a few weeks there will be stories circulating about tropical fish leaping out of tanks at night destroying household pets.

Quotable sources people, not vague second hand references.

 

[David]

I got my info from veritable sources such as books and firsthand experiences of close friends. Please don't assume that I am just throwing random stuff at people. I wouldn't suggest something if I didn't mean it or wasn't absolutely sure about it.

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> sources such as books

Thats what I mean, not "from a book". from "this" book, where you state the details, so we can all see the pedigree of the book. There are thousands of books out there. Suprise! Not all of them give the same advice.

Similaly, saying "no plecs with Discus" is a wide sweeping statement, and, in the experience of many fish keepers, incorrect. You need to indicate that "person X had problem Y when keeping species Z with discus". If you don't do that, people will assume you are generalising, (quite rightly), and will not believe you.

>>> wasn't absolutely sure about it.

You are absolutely sure you are right, others here are absolutely sure you are wrong - you see? You need to back up your comments.

The 'net is full of people who say things.

 

[David]

It has happened to two of my friends. The plec attached itself to the Discus, and the discus died several days later with a smal bump/sore on it's side. Sorry if you think I'm generalising, but I've had almost firsthand experience with this sort of thing. Maybe larger plecs are ok with the discus because their mouths can't fit.

 

[elgecko]

What I have read on several occasions has been on a discus forum.
It might not happen to everybody, but the price of the fish I would not try it.