Discus, OK not dwarfs but after reliable help...

[Konigwolf]

Discus, OK not dwarfs but after reliable help, if you know a better forum for this question please suggest. I have two 7-8cm snakskin discus in a 14 gallon tank with some neons, I also have 2 blue turquoise discus comming in a couple of days, size about 3-4cm would it be ok to have them all in the same tank or have the new ones in the 14gallon tank and move the old ones up to a 40gallon.

Andrew

[kingborris]

Hi,

IMO, i wouldn't keep any discus in a 14G... its too small really. young fish need lots of good quality water to help them grow on. and ideally they should be kept in a shoal... especially true of young fish IMO.

Can you move all the fish to your 40G?

[Konigwolf]

While I can move them to the 40 gallon, I prefer not as I am having trouble getting the water a crystal clear as I'd like yet (its clear but not pefect), may need a new filter :rolleyes: . I chose the 14 gallon (2'x1'x1') because it had blue rams spawning in it like clockwork so I figured it must of been at least good water standards and I didnt want to risk the discus to any but my best tank. So recommend would be

To move to 40 gallon and place all 4 together when 2nd pair arrive even though 3-4cm size difference, smallness (3-4cm discus in a 40 gallon:confused: ) for tank size, does anyone concurr or dissagre with this?

Just trying to make the best decision I can

Andrew

[kingborris]

the size difference is immaterial IMO. you may find that the smaller fish are picked on by the older fish (hence the need for a decent sized shoal... to spread aggression)... but thats cichlids for you ;) I think that the four fish in a 40G will do a lot better than 2 in a 14. you are likely to stunt the discus in the 14G. Just make sure your ammonia and nitrite readings are 0 in whatever tank you use, or your fish will be floating before you know it :(

If you are after a more specialised forum for discus, I can recommend the following: http://www.forum.ukdiscus.co.uk/index.php (mods... if linking to other forums isnt allowed, please remove)

Its a UK based site, but we have some knowedgable folks on board with many years of experience, and we have just completed our first ever Discus show!

[Konigwolf]

Thanks for the help, am now getting 3 discus so that will help I hope all 5 are going into the 40 gallon after playing some musical tanks to lower any possible aggression factor, also have 2 filters running 1 rated for a 40 gallon tank the other rated to almost 40gallon so should be well filtered, thanks again

Andrew

[farm41]

Water clarity problems are most always overfeeding/overstocking problems. A 14 gallon tank is even too small for a QT for discus. A 40 is going to be too small for 5 small discus real soon.


What is your water change schedule?

If your water is cloudy now, adding more fish is real trouble.

[david hui]

Hi,

Has you checked simplydiscus or discusasahobby for more info?

Daivd