Discus help

[Chrisplosion]

I got my very first discus today. I asked the store employee what their keep their pH at at and they said 6.5-7.0. Mine is 7.5-7.6. I asked him if I could drip acclimate it to my pH and they said it would be fine. So I am doing this now with a slow drip into a 5 gallon bucket. Am I doing the right thing?

 

[bleublaze55]

yes, but i hope your not putting that thing in the same tank as your cichlids!!

 

[bigfishrcool1193]

yes, but i hope your not putting that thing in the same tank as your cichlids!!

X2

and what what size is the discus, how frequent are your waterchanges, how much water do/will you remove, and what size tank?

 

[Chrisplosion]

Hell no, I may be retarded but I'm not that retarded. He will be in his own tank. The buckets now about half full and its been about an hour and a half. He is horizontal and not laying on his side.

 

[Chrisplosion]

Hes in a 20H but I will move him into a 40 or 55 in a month or two. I plan on doing 50% every 3-4 days. Hes only about 2 inches maybe 3 at the most.

 

[Chrisplosion]

I'm getting mixed messages, should I keep the tank bare?

 

[3dees]

that size fish need to be fed at least 5 times a day. wc every 3-4 days will probable give you stunted fish. 50% every day is more the norm. I know that sucks which is why I bought 5" fish when I set my tank up, and I still do 2-50% and 2-25% wc per week. keeping the tank bare is the best for now as it's easier to clean.

 

[Chrisplosion]

Hes still alive! So a 50% everyday, feed 5 times a day.

1. Could I keep gravel as long as I gravel vac everyday?
2. Should I have a darker lights? I was gonna put paper in the glass part of the hood so its not as bright.
3. Can I feed him cichlid food, if not what should I feed.
4. Read something about them producing a lot of slime and thats why you keep a bare tank you can easily wipe it down because the slime builds up or something?

 

[Chrisplosion]

Also he hiding behind the filter (got an internal one in the tank), is there anything I can do to get him to come out or should I give him more time?

 

[Chrisplosion]

I moved the bubbler under the filter and how hes not hiding behind the filter so I got a couple pics. Can you tell if hes stunted?