Thinking of doing a discus tank

[johnson5585]

Hello all,
I fully understand the measurement per gallon rule and that is not what I am looking for here. I would like to know from others who have had a happy discus tank. I would like some info before I start another tank. How many discus did you keep and in what size tank did you find sufficient. I was think of maybe mixing in some severums. Any luck with this combo? I was thinking of doing 4 to 5 mixed discus and severums or all discus depending on the answers I get here. Discus are more expensive than other fish about 50 bucks a pop. How do they hold up. are they a hardy fish or a picky fish? I am fairly new at keeping bigger more tropical fish but have always had a small tank of one thing or another. I am very diligent in my water changes feeding and cleaning. Healthy fish = Happy fish

Thanks for all of the help in advance.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

personally, I would not use severums as a tankmate for discus. I would go discus only as far as cichlids go being that it is your first discus tank

 

[pcfriedrich]

discus require specific pH and hardness requirements. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure they need soft water and a neutral to low pH. as far as tankmates I agree with cichlaholics, I probably wouldn't keep them with other cichlids. angel fish would probably be the best/only cichlids you could keep discus with. probably tetras or barbs would make the best non-cichlid tankmates. You should give discus more room than you think they'll need.

maybe private message a mod and have him move this thread to the "angel fish and discus" forum. those guys will have the best info.
I've never kept discus, all I know is what I've read on here, so you will no doubt get better info from others.

 

[pcfriedrich]

They say that discus aren't beginner fish, but I had a friend that started discus as his first tank. they lasted at least a year. I moved out of town, so I'm not sure of the eventual outcome.

 

[stickman]

if its cichlids u want with them, i think the rams and apistagrammis are supposed to do well with discus. ive got a ghost knife and some neons with my fw ray and discus.

 

[johnson5585]

Thanks for the input thus far. Just to clarify this would not be my first tank just started bigger fish keeping. I don't particularly just want other Cichlids with them, I just already have a young Severum that I thought may be an acceptable type of tank mate along with others but is why I asked. I have nothing against tetras, barbs or other small fish. I think they are great. I saw a discus tank with some different Tetras and possibly some Danios quite nice actually. Thanks for the info again. Any more thoughts let me know. Like the info!

 

[WyldFya]

Discus and severums are a big no. The severums would outcompete the discus for food, resulting in stunted discus. Apistogrammas and rams would be a good pairing. These guys need really high quality foods, and many feedings a day, plus lots of water changes. I currently have a 135 with 17 discus in it, but most of them were large when they went in.

 

[AmputatedBrain]

Not sure about the other fish with the discus . . .tetras and corys are the surest bets for compatibility. Angelfish supposedly can carry parasites that are bad for the discus. I've never personally seen anyone have too many problems, but all the literature out there says they're a bad combo. If you a get a 55 gallon tank you should be in great shape with 4 or 5 discus, or maybe even a few more. They can be a finicky eater, and are easy to stunt if you don't feed enough protein. Could go on, but try www.simplydiscus.com has a lot of good info as well from specialists.

 

[jersey600]

Not sure about the other fish with the discus . . .tetras and corys are the surest bets for compatibility. Angelfish supposedly can carry parasites that are bad for the discus. I've never personally seen anyone have too many problems, but all the literature out there says they're a bad combo. If you a get a 55 gallon tank you should be in great shape with 4 or 5 discus, or maybe even a few more. They can be a finicky eater, and are easy to stunt if you don't feed enough protein. Could go on, but try www.simplydiscus.com has a lot of good info as well from specialists.

ANY fish can carry parasites.

+1 on simply discus, great forums with a wealth of knowledge on discus.

add fish that require the same water parameters as the discus. i believe most cichlids require pH that is more alkaline and discus like acidic. just add fish that you enjoy and that you know wont harm the discus, my tankmates for 6 discus include 2 plecos, 7 clown loaches, an 11" arowana and ~40 rummynose tetras

 

[AmputatedBrain]

ANY fish can carry parasites.

of course, but there is a certain parasite angels can potentially carry that is especially risky. direct quote:

"Some aquarists still believe angelfish and discus cannot be kept together due to the angelfish being a carrier for the parasite that causes "discus disease," a fatal, incurable malady, but due to angels, as well as discus, now being bred in vast numbers commercially, this has become a rare occurrence."