Is 88F too hot for discus?

[el wadd]

I've been shopping and observing the LFS' in my area, and noticed they were running hot. 86~87 degrees.....I tried it, and I gotta tell you the hydor external heaters are tricky if you're not paying attention...Woke up this morning and temp was 91.8F. I quickly lowered the temp control on the heater(I didn't want to stress them by dumping cooler water in the tank, so I let it naturally cool off over the course of the day.

Funny thing is that my fishes colors have never been brighter. Is it safe to leave it @ 88? Discus ate like horses today when I fed them @ 88.6, tetras and corys are all still doing the same stuff, nothing seems stressed.

What exactly is the max temp for discus? 91.8 didn't seem to bother them too much....not that I want to have it that hot, just wondering.

 

[Lupin]

Discus can tolerate warm temperatures. 88 is okay. Most people push it there or even to 90. I'd worry about the tetras and cories if I were you. Most do not tolerate the higher temperature the discus love to thrive in. I suggest using the airpump to increase oxygen level. Warmer temp=decreased oxygen level

 

[el wadd]

I'm gonna leave it where it is. The tetras and cories all seem to be doing fine @88.

 

[el wadd]

dropped it to 87 and gonna keep an eye on the C&T's

 

[J double R]

Discus can tolerate warm temperatures.

discus REQUIRE warmer temps.

 

[davexstumpe]

discus love it in the upper 80s, i'd jsut be concerned with the cories at that temp.

 

[foxinlady]

I have cories in with my discus at that temp and there has been no probs. They were in the tank first and I gradually increased the temp and it never bothered them. But just b/c it worked for me doesn't mean it will for everyone.

 

[smbjedi]

I have cories in with my discus at that temp and there has been no probs. They were in the tank first and I gradually increased the temp and it never bothered them. But just b/c it worked for me doesn't mean it will for everyone.

i agree, i keep my tank at bout 86 and the cories and tetras do great.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

be careful when you say "They are doing fine." While fish may appear OK at temps that are actually too high for them, where it plays out on the downside is in shortened lifespan.

As you raise tank temps in general, you tend to speed up the matabolism of many fish. The effects of this will not appear as day to day problems but in terms of longevity.

 

[Lupin]

discus REQUIRE warmer temps.

Thanks for the correction. What a duff I am for using the wrong words.:irked: