View Full Version : discus
i've think about this really long:grinyes: , since my angels wont be alive for a very long time,and i really love discus:mad2:
so im thinking after my tank staple and cycled for 3 month, i'll get 2 discus
and start my new challen:headbang2:
i've read many books, online webs, and do a lot of researd:grinyes:
but i still want to ask the people that really have/has keep discus
and they might help me more than the one that i've read:idea:
so please tell me everything you know about caring for discus
keep them healthy, active and alive(beutiful) :)
any tips , addvice :welcome:
cause i really need to learn about this
thank you very much
emo
ps idk if this is true, i've read that atleast 10 gal per discus
:help: :help: :help: :help: :help:
RedScare
09-30-2007, 7:42 AM
Welcome to water change land!
1. Get your fish from a breeder.
2. You should get at least 4 in a 40 gallon, but really have 6 in a 55 gallon or bigger. I think 8-10 in a 75 is ideal.
3. Consider doing 50% water changes every other day or more for getting big Discus. At least 3 30% a week. I aim for AT LEAST 100% water turnaround weekly for fish health.
4. Bare bottoms are not necessary but will help with the water quality needed for monster Discus.
5. You should keep Discus alone or with peaceful harmless fish like corys. Angels tend to carry Hexamita which is devastating to Discus. Uaru can be kept with Discus also. Remember to quarantine everything.
6. Feed them food regularly that you could treat with medication easily like beef heart. It will allow for good growth and can be laced with anti-biotics or anti-parasitic medications easier than bloodworms.
I'm out of ideas for now. Anyone else have any tips????
yogias
09-30-2007, 2:02 PM
best to keep them in groups of 6+. Mine are in a heavily plated tank, with sand as substrate. I have 5 neons, 2 Clown loaches and 5 ghost shrimps. They all get along without any problems. My tank temp is 86 degrees (as they are juvies) but 82 -86 is ideal. Some people use R/O water, but I use rainwater gathered from a water but. The PH comes in at 6.5 and it is very soft, ideal for Discus growth. Worm them once a month with a good quality wormer. I have been very lucky with my Discus. A lot of people say that they are difficult to keep, but I got mine as a novice and have had no problems, apart from the odd Swimbladder problem, which has been quickly resolved using Interpet Swimbladder treatment. Would love to see some pics of your set-up once you are up and running, Good Luck!
jm1212
09-30-2007, 6:42 PM
how big of tank are you planning on getting? why arent your angels going to survive much longer?
pinkertd
09-30-2007, 8:08 PM
I answered your pm. Just reading your post here. Discus are extremely social. Just two, 3 or 4 is not a good number, first off for the social reason, mine actually shoal together first thing every morning, and secondly in small numbers one will get picked on. Larger groups = less aggression, spreading juvenile aggression around. They don't require soft water, although some think it is necessary for spawning and hatching. Mine grow, spawn and hatch in ph 7.6. Tap water treated with NovAqua. My temps are 86 for the juvenile, and 83 for the older discus. If you have no experience with a planted tank, getting discus for the first time and keeping a planted discus tank for the first time is not a good idea. Young discus need to be feed 6 times/day, and if you do feed beefheart, the leftovers must be siphoned out immediately or that raw meat is going to foul your water quicker than you can whistle!! Live foods are generally not recommended. Good quality flakes, pellets, frozen bloodworms and beefheart are the recommended foods of choice. Lots of water changes are a must with all that feeding going on. And, It is very important to get your discus from a good, reliable source. A lot of mine came from Discus Kenny here, and they came robust, healthy without internal/external parasites, eating like piglets just a couple hours out of the shipping box. I've never had to treat my discus for any parasites after I acquired them. I would only recommend a cleanup crew to keep in the tank with them while they are growing out, some cories that can tolerate the higher temps like sterbai or albino cories, and a bristlenose pleco that will keep your tank glass clean!
Star_Rider
09-30-2007, 8:55 PM
I agree with what has been said.
tho I would highly suggest you get more skill keeping fish before you make the leap to discus..which are not as hardy as angels ..young discus need very clean water and will not tolerate high TDS or nitrates.
you will need a much larger aquarium for them too.
recommendations are a minimum for 10g per discus. with no less than 4 fish.(you should consider a 55 for this set up minimum.
my concern is the issues you had with angels..and moving to a more difficult and time consuming species like discus.
well i was keeping angelfish for almost a year and then after i replace an old mean big angels with a small angels(from petco,)and that angel have some kind of bacteria(that i dint know till 3 die on the same day.so ow im quiting angel, but i do still hvae one,
and i tested the water everything is fine,
but i did do alot of water changes since that on,
Dwarf Puffers
10-02-2007, 4:28 PM
You could get 6-8 in a 100g, it could give you a tiny, tiny bit more leisure with the WCs ;)
thst is more gals than i have
Star_Rider
10-02-2007, 5:35 PM
You seem to miss the point.
you should aquire good fish keeping skill before moving on to more difficult fish.
understand the requirments of the fish. you should not just go out and buy 2 disus and put them in a 20 gallon tank.
discus need to be in groups in order to keep them comfortable.this means a larger tank.
they need pristine water. especially juveniles. they need to be fed several times per day and the uneaten food removed(water changes)
the temp needs to be 84-86 sometimes higher.
you need to feed them good quality food.
for this reason they are usually best raised in a Bare bottom tank.
how many tanks do you have? how big are your tank/tanks?what are your quarantine practices?
your angels may have suffered from a bacterial infection. have you discovered what the problem really was?
you had issues with angels which are a bit hardier than discus.
I have been somwehat familiar with your angel issues..it is with these issues that I wonder about you moving to discus.
discus are not difficult to keep but they will require a lot of effort on your part.
my angels have a baceria which make them wont eat and hide,
i got almost all of them accep the tank size
i have 2 tank, one 20 long and the 55 gal is cycling,20 long is for studing ing or qt the discus
Star_Rider
10-03-2007, 10:09 AM
there are several things that can bring about the Sx your angels had.
stress being one of them add to that it is a precursor to other issues.
which may include bacterial problems. but if I remember correctly you had the 20 over stocked with angels..
all I am suggesting is for you to work on your fish keeping skills. then progressively move to Discus..which without question will be more demanding of those aquired skills.
smbjedi
10-06-2007, 10:49 PM
if you decide to go with the discus, i know a good breeder in richardson.
ok, my oreder of 3 discus come in yesterday, so i go and pick it up , as i arrive to the store that i placed my order online, the oner of that place is my mom's friend, , we have a little chat, then he come inside his where house/ or whatever it's called and bring out a box, and he said everything that you'll need 's in there, so i was like ok thank
when i get home , open the box, there are 3 discus and 2 veiltail altum baby in there,!!!!!!! free blood worm!
and the discus are about 2" to 4" and they cost only about 18 each!
now all of them are fine,
oh and some where in the week, my 55 gal broke so i have to put them in a 40 gal bucket,and it's leaking, so i'll have to move them in to the 20 long just for now and the altum will be in the 10 gal
Nolapete
10-07-2007, 12:36 PM
well i was keeping angelfish for almost a year and then after i replace an old mean big angels with a small angels(from petco,)and that angel have some kind of bacteria(that i dint know till 3 die on the same day.so ow im quiting angel, but i do still hvae one,
and i tested the water everything is fine,
but i did do alot of water changes since that on,
Based on this post, I would strongly advise against you getting discus until you can keep easier fish successfully.
RedScare
10-07-2007, 1:21 PM
GOOD LUCK!
Star_Rider
10-07-2007, 4:19 PM
:( something is just not right here,:shakehead:
i think i have badlucks, um wha did i do wrong with my asian decor in my house, cause since i change the postition of my thank into the corner, one of my 10 gal break, my pond's water turn dirty red, lost alot of money, my new 55 gal broke, 40 gal bucket is leaking, and all of my healthy angels start to stop eating and die, and i tested thewater for everything but there are nothing wrong,
umm
i'll try to do my best getting a new 55 gal as soon as i can
Lupin
10-07-2007, 11:35 PM
and all of my healthy angels start to stop eating and die, and i tested thewater for everything but there are nothing wrong,
What exactly are the water parameters? Comments alone are not satisfying. There is something wrong with them if your angels are not eating. How are the discus?
the discus are some, 2 of my altum baby is now with the discus, cause the 10 gal is till dangerus for them, :sad:
all of the fish in my 20 long are swiming and actively, eating quite alot, and it's very fun to watch:woot:
and here are some pics:bling:
those are the best in all of them:D
cant seem to upload video so i'll try that latter:D :help2:
enjoy:thumbsup:
the discus and the angels seem to like Mg's Vals, and they are red , white and blue, to indicate the colors from the USA and TX 's flag:hitting: :raspberry:
^.^
It looks like you have Snow White, Blue Diamond and Pigeon Blood strains.
Star_Rider
10-08-2007, 9:31 AM
those angels appear to be scalare.
yep one neon blue, white diamon,mosaic
RedScare
10-08-2007, 5:47 PM
those angels appear to be scalare.
2 votes for scalare.
I don't think Veil Tail Altums exist. Please correct me if I'm wrong.....
Star_Rider
10-08-2007, 7:43 PM
2 votes for scalare.
I don't think Veil Tail Altums exist. Please correct me if I'm wrong.....
if they do, I have never seen them..tho veil tails are a morph of the fish..I have seen veils of the scalre(wild)
;)
the tell tale sign of these being scalare is headshape and the thin brown bars
those angels appear to be scalare.
Thought about this as well but I was not sure what I was seeing.:lipssealedsmilie:
um, i really dont sure too, well maybe when they are little bigger we'll know