Are you thinking about trying discus...

[SusieQ]

Hi all.. Please understand this is not a rant but offered as hopefully helpful to those thinking about trying discus.. Many of the threads over the past few months echo the same questions and concerns so I thought, being a many times discus keeper but certainly not an expert, this might be helpful to some just getting started..
There are many great folks on this forum with lots of experience and info we all suggest that before you purchase any discus you read read read.. They are a wonderful fish to keep and while not as difficult to keep as some would think they do require more of a commitment than raising your average freshwater tropical.. So read here on this forum and simplydiscus, a forum devoted to this wonderful fish and then decide if you wish to make both the dollar and time commitment.. If yes... go for it.. and, while there are many different takes on raising discus, for the tank bred strains, I humbly suggest the following.
Discus are a social fish to thrive they need to be in groups of at least 4 or 5 (the bigger the group the better)or be a mated pair.. If you have 2 or 3 they eventually end up as 1.. They are cichlids afterall..
Allow 10 gallons per discus.. as adults they are big fish.. imagine a cd in your tank for each discus
Discus need warm clean water.. Most of us keep the temps between 82-84.
Clean water means lots of water changes.. As adults at least once a week 40%.. twice a week is better and more the norm.. as juvies every day or two is usually considered minimal.. juvies can easily become stunted from improper care..
There is a big difference between keeping adults and keeping juvies.. The adults require less feedings and therefore less water changes and can easily be placed in a planted tank.. the juvies require more feedings make bigger messes and therefore require more water changes which are not ideal for plants.. so bare bottom is the easiest way to go.
Discus are expensive sensitive fish.. if you are just starting I suggest a discus only tank with perhaps a bn and some tetras that can take the heat. Once you are experienced you may want to add other peaceful fish.. Lots of folks try different combos and it's difficult to know what will work in someones tank so always have a backup plan..
Quarantine tanks are essential.. they can be something as simple as a food safe plastic rubbermaid bin, heater and airstone/filter.. but anything going into a discus tank should be quarantined..
Try and if possible buy all your discus at the same time from the same breeder.. Unless you have an exceptional lfs in your area, I suggest you buy from a breeder.. preferrably in your local area so you can see the setup and pick your fish.. if none are available locally the sponsors section on simplydiscus lists them as well as feedback.. The folks here can help as well..

Really if you start with quality fish, a commitment to their care (water changes water changes water changes) and a love for the look of these graceful creatures gliding across your tank, you will have a wonderful discus keeping experience. If you are lucky enough to have a pair form and spawn it's an exciting thing to see.
I hesitated in writing this and hope I have not been too presumptuous or stepped on anyone's toes in offering this advice. It is merely meant to be advice as I know that many folks with experience do not respond to many beginner threads as they feel the op's often have not taken the time to investigate the info about these fish, and so why should they take the time to respond to their questions. Everyone has to start somewhere and I would hate to see folks discouraged from keeping these wonderful fish because they haven't been given a hand and answers to their questions.. Hope this helps someone and those of you with personal experience feel free to comment, add info etc.. HTH Sue

For further inquiries about the discus profile, please post them here. I made a separate thread to make it easier for us to sift through the information.
Added information can be found here.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2947077#post2947077

 

[hillbilly]

I totally agree with Sue. Too many people come on this forum with problems that could have easily prevented. I know it must sound at times that I am ranting also, but that is not my intention. I happen to love Discus, and I just think people should learn what they are doing before buying these fascinating and wonderful fish. So please, do a little research before buying discus, or I guarantee you are going to have problems. Thanks Sue.

 

[SusieQ]

Hi there.. Thanks Darrell.. Please feel free to add any additional advice.. Thanks again Sue

 

[hillbilly]

You've covered it well. I can only say, make sure your tank is fully cycled before adding any discus. If you don't, you're going to have problems right from the start.

 

[Citrinellus]

I agree susie, i was really into the discus hobby a few years back. I found to often that people don't research this fish enough before purchasing. I hope many people will look at this and realize that these are not the average convicts.

 

[mrquad]

i would say IMHO, the best minimum juvies to keep starts at 6-10.. and for plecos to be tankmates, it depends on plecos, if you don't give your plecos food, they nip on your discus side, if you want them to be your discus mate, feed them also.. this is just my own experience..

 

[SusieQ]

Hi Everyone.. Thanks for your feedback and comments. I hope this will be of help to some also. Please feel free to continue to add more info to the post as those folks with experience raising these beauties definitely need to put newbies on the right path.. Thanks again Sue

 

[hillbilly]

i would say IMHO, the best minimum juvies to keep starts at 6-10.. and for plecos to be tankmates, it depends on plecos, if you don't give your plecos food, they nip on your discus side, if you want them to be your discus mate, feed them also.. this is just my own experience..

In my experience, bristlenoses seem to be the best plecos to keep with discus. I have about a dozen or so at the moment that are in my discus tanks. None of them have ever bothered my discus.

 

[msjinkzd]

Great advice. I like to keep sterbai cory with my discus from the start. Very thorough post!

 

[Casper]

Sticky please!

I think you need to prepare yourself for the massive waterchanges if you're going the discus route.



Water storage: I've used big rubbermaid 50 gallon trashcans on wheels now for 4 months. Also use 55 gallon drums which are food grade and only contained juice for human consumption. I've seen these on a mail order catalog for disaster emergency supplies - trash cans from your local hardware store are the cheapest alternative though.


Moving water: Traditional 5 gallon buckets to build your forearms or use a python or snake a long tube out the door to take water out. I'm using a 1 1/2" vacuum hose pipe that I found at my local pool supply store to remove water (25 feet for like $30, might be cheaper than getting tubing at your local fish store). It rolls up and can be store under or behind your tank. To return water I have a strong pump hooked up to some kink resistant Eheim tubing with a hook and water diffuser at the end. Any variation will be better than lifting water in buckets to fill up your tank.


Aging your water: Is your water stable? Test the pH out of the tap and then store the water and test it after 24 hours with some water movement. Did your pH fluctuate or remain stable? If it changed then you may need to age your water before you do the water change so you're not shocking your fish each water change.
As long as your pH is not extreme, the discus should be able to live in it as long as it's stable. (My discus live in 8.3 pH and attempt to breed in there. I may need reverse osmosis water if I want to raise discus fry to lower the TDS and pH)


Stabilizing the temperature: Please make sure the temperature in the new water being added is close to the temperature in the tank.