Clown loaches with discus?

jacobfata

Candiru
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Sep 22, 2018
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So.. I currently have a school of 11 small discus housed with a few rams and a school of cardinals. In the setup I also have a school of eight small clown loaches. Who are very active. I’m cycling my 90 gallon and moving the discus over soon and am debating moving the clown loaches with them. They look absolutely beautiful together. But I’m really questioning if they are more harm than good when it comes to being discus tankmates. Opinions?
 

RD.

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11 discus in a 90? That alone sends red flags up, adding a group of CL's I think would be the last thing that you want to do, even if it's a small group. The CL's will outcompete the discus during feeding (CL's are hyper fast feeders, and discus are slow and picky). If I was you, I would really focus on the needs of those 11 discus, and not be worrying about what you can or cannot add.
 

Coryloach

Potamotrygon
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Healthy clowns will be like sharks at eating time. I don't think the discus will get a chance at all. The activity level of clowns will also be too much for the discus....
On a positive side, there's never food left over with clown loaches....
 

jacobfata

Candiru
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Sep 22, 2018
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11 discus in a 90? That alone sends red flags up, adding a group of CL's I think would be the last thing that you want to do, even if it's a small group. The CL's will outcompete the discus during feeding (CL's are hyper fast feeders, and discus are slow and picky). If I was you, I would really focus on the needs of those 11 discus, and not be worrying about what you can or cannot add.
Yes eleven 3 inch discus in a 90 gallon. Considering they are currently being housed in a 55 gallon I’m sure they will welcome the 90 gallon transfer. I do not have adult discus. Thank you for the reply though. That’s exactly what I was concerned about and will now be addressing.
 

RD.

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Yes eleven 3 inch discus in a 90 gallon. Considering they are currently being housed in a 55 gallon I’m sure they will welcome the 90 gallon transfer. I do not have adult discus. Thank you for the reply though. That’s exactly what I was concerned about and will now be addressing.
Yeah, I got it the first time. 11 juvenile discus. Good luck to you.
 

jacobfata

Candiru
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Sep 22, 2018
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Yeah, I got it the first time. 11 juvenile discus. Good luck to you.
So many fellow hobbyists get this high and mighty attitude and come down on others rather than actually offer any helpful advice. I see this far too often. Your “red flag alert” is understood, you probably meant “eleven adult discus would be overstocking your aquarium” or something to that extent. Which I would like to discuss with you actually.. my boyfriend went to Jack Watley in Miami and literally comes home with four discus to add to our shoal of what was going to be seven discus in the 90 gallon. At adult size, it is possible (but not something I want) with frequent water changes but now I have eleven discus temporarily being housed in our 55 gallon. I added the HOBs from the 55 to the 90 roughly one week ago and have slowly been introducing our collection to the new setup. In your honest non biased opinion, do you think the aquarium is currently under too heavy of a bio load? I feel as if I could do eleven three to four inch discus in the 90 gallon with weekly %50 water changes for some time. I also have the cardinals and four small rams but I understand that the discus are my main focus. I’m more than likely going to try and regime three or four of them to thin out or shoal. I couldn’t tell him no after they were already in our home but lesson learned. The last thing I want to do is cause harm to an animal. You think eleven discus with the cardinals is even too much for the 90? I’m wanting to learn something here, maybe you can help...?
 

RD.

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No, I actually meant exactly what I said. Juveniles obviously don't stay juveniles forever. I think that sometimes a high & mighty attitude is misread by those who have difficulty accepting good sound advice when they are seeking reinforcement of their own ideals. You got plenty of good advice in the following discussion.


Good luck
 

neutrino

Goliath Tigerfish
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Clown loaches get far too pushy for discus. They're not what I'd call aggressive, but they get pushy when they can get away with it. You probably won't see it when the loaches are cute little 2-3 inch toddlers, but it will happen, you won't like it. I tried it many moons ago.

...I'm heading out the door, no time to argue tank size for discus, so take it as personal opinion if you want-- but l kept discus, pretty good at it. I wouldn't plan on 11 in a 90 long term. As adults, 11 would make a beautiful display-- in a larger tank.
 

jacobfata

Candiru
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Sep 22, 2018
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I rehomed a few and now have nine discus in a 90 gallon aquarium, and considering staying before and now I’m rehoming some as they pair off. There is nothing to argue.

I also got rid of all but three clown loaches who I couldn’t catch at the time.. I never see them unless it’s feeding time and they clean the setup quite well.

All water parameters are a go, so I’m happy at this point. Thank you for the input!

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