Hi there..
You didn't mention it but hopefully you qt the 2 new discus before adding them to your tank.. If not please try and do this for anything you add to a discus tank in the future as if you don't you are playing with fire and are in danger of losing all your beautiful fish..
As to the bullying.. Discus are cichlids and develop a hierarchy in a tank.. There will always be an alpha and a last in line.. That's part of the reason for purchasing multiple discus.. It takes a while for them to sort this out.. As long as bullying is merely chasing and turf wars kinda thing let it go for awhile.. If a discus is unable to eat or being very badly stressed then you need to take action. If the bullying only happens at feeding time just try and feed at different areas of the tank at the same time or try using a worm holder type device..
Normally when introducing new discus in small amounts to a small tank with just a few discus in there, like you are doing, I found the best way is to remove the two that are in the tank to a bucket or something or move them to the one side of the tank and redo the tanks aquascape before adding the new fish along with putting the old ones back .. That way they are basically all starting over together in a new tank.. kinda all on even footing.. Since you had your original 2 in there for several months they see the tank as "their"tank.. so" new "digs will help.. Then give them at least a week to sort things out..If the bullying continues after that you may have to try a time out for the bully for a week and see if that works.. If not you might have to rehome the bully and purchase another discus..
How big is your tank and are there any other fish in with the discus.. Is the tank aquascaped or bb?? All these elements as well as water quality play a role and may be affecting your fish.. But from the minimal info in your post, it appears to be nprmal behavior so far as the new ones have only been in there for a short while.. I would still try and rearrange whatever decor is in the tank and just wait and watch for awhile.. It takes a bit to sort things out. Good luck with your fish... Sue
You didn't mention it but hopefully you qt the 2 new discus before adding them to your tank.. If not please try and do this for anything you add to a discus tank in the future as if you don't you are playing with fire and are in danger of losing all your beautiful fish..
As to the bullying.. Discus are cichlids and develop a hierarchy in a tank.. There will always be an alpha and a last in line.. That's part of the reason for purchasing multiple discus.. It takes a while for them to sort this out.. As long as bullying is merely chasing and turf wars kinda thing let it go for awhile.. If a discus is unable to eat or being very badly stressed then you need to take action. If the bullying only happens at feeding time just try and feed at different areas of the tank at the same time or try using a worm holder type device..
Normally when introducing new discus in small amounts to a small tank with just a few discus in there, like you are doing, I found the best way is to remove the two that are in the tank to a bucket or something or move them to the one side of the tank and redo the tanks aquascape before adding the new fish along with putting the old ones back .. That way they are basically all starting over together in a new tank.. kinda all on even footing.. Since you had your original 2 in there for several months they see the tank as "their"tank.. so" new "digs will help.. Then give them at least a week to sort things out..If the bullying continues after that you may have to try a time out for the bully for a week and see if that works.. If not you might have to rehome the bully and purchase another discus..
How big is your tank and are there any other fish in with the discus.. Is the tank aquascaped or bb?? All these elements as well as water quality play a role and may be affecting your fish.. But from the minimal info in your post, it appears to be nprmal behavior so far as the new ones have only been in there for a short while.. I would still try and rearrange whatever decor is in the tank and just wait and watch for awhile.. It takes a bit to sort things out. Good luck with your fish... Sue
