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Hello everyone. I was looking for some information about whether I could get a discus or not, and as usual, the information I have found is contradicting.

My tank volume is 96 litres, height is 40cm (15 inches), length is 80cm (31 inches) and width is 30 cm (12 inches). The tank is understocked with 2 rams, 2 apistogramma cockatoo, 2 SAEs and 7 Cories. The cockatoos can move to another tank

My main concern is that the tank is not big and/or tall enough. I would get a juvenile discus and am planning on getting a bigger tank but I don't know where that will happen. So, should I just wait until I get a bigger tank or is okay to get one now? I have also read somewhere that they should be kept in groups of four, but have seen many tanks where they are kept alone or in pairs, so I'm not sure about that one. That's why I decided to post this here. Your input will be appreciated.

Thanks!

not an expert, but if u can get the water right, then the tank sound o.k for lets say 3 discus.

keeping groups of four is meaningless, the reason why they say "keep in groups" is because new arrived discus especailly small ones tend to be very shy and hide all the time. They will even starve to death rather than eating nice food that you prepared for them. By keeping them in groups will make them feel saver and hence venture out more. In fact for a fresh start...no less than 6 if they are smaller than say..6cm. While on the other hand, for disucs that has been "matured" in a tank, they can be kept singly, pairs, groups, which ever you prefer.

SAE's are no good with Discus, sometimes they stick around on the disuc and suck them, making injuries on the Discus.

If you know you are going to have a bigger tank, I say wait

I would say a 24 Gallon tank is too small for 1 discus let alone 3.
If its too short for angels (which it is), it is too short for Discus (which grow bigger than angels).
I would say no.


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Oh By the way,
I keep my Discus in a community tank with 2 SAE's. Sae's rarely suck onto other fish, I think you are confusing Chinese Algae Eaters with Siamese Algae Eaters - two totally different fish.


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Thanks all for you comments.

I will indeed wait until I get a bigger tank (my water parameters would be excellent for them, very soft, pH of 6.6, etc). I really want to get a discus -- sneaky_pete, you can blame yourself for that as I only started thinking about it after seeing the pictures of your discus in the photo booth. However, I don't want to get a fish if my conditions are not perfect for it...

Time to make some space in the house then... Anyone has any experience with breaking some walls???

Thanks again!

Hi,
sorry I didnt mean to sound snappy or waspish or anything!
Usually I try for a more pleasant manner but was having a "quick reply" day.
You wouldnt really need that much bigger of a tank.
A 29 Gallon would probably be sufficient for a pair, as a 29 is very tall. Around here, they also sell a 38 gallon, which is the same footprint as a 25 long, but that much taller. I dont know if you can get those tanks where you live, these ones are "Sea Star" Brand.
Ultimately, the perfect setup would probably be a 55g, 4 Discus, planted, with a small school of dither fish like cards or neons, and a school of bottom feeders.
BUT
If you plan to get the bigger tank say, within the year you could get a couple juvenile Discus and they would be OK in your tank for that time. Like Angelfish they are fairly slow growing. Also, the longer you had them (say from little guys) the more personable they would be with you, and that is very rewarding.

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A thirty gallon would be the VERY minimum; reserved only for an already breeding pair. Read trace-russ's guide for discus prior to purchasing--it's a very good faq, and to my knowledge, accurate as well. Also, if I recall correctly, you're the CO2 fancy plant type of guy---despite them being kept in impressive planted displays all over the world, maintaining the tank will be troublesome at best.

Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 21-Apr-2005 13:31