Question about feeding Discus in a community tank

[platytetrafan]

Hello I have a question regarding feeding my discus I am new to caring for them & want to to the best for them. Ok they are now in a community tank with other compatible fish. I know discus have to be fed daily but I usually feed my other fish every other day. I have cories cherry barbs glo tetras bleeding heart tetra & glo danio in the tank. Since I do not want to overfeed & want my discus to get their nutrition I read about these feeding cones that can be used to feed them. When I tried to feed them last night with the others I felt they weren’t able to get to the food fast enough. My other fish are hogs lol! I have watched several videos on youtube where people were using the cones. My worst fear is overfeeding something I want to avoid.Any advise is welcome thanks!

 

[fishorama]

This issue you're seeing is why discus tankmates need to be chosen with care. They do eat slowly, danios & larger tetras eat fast. Feeding cones are usually used for thawed frozen blood worms or live blackworms, not other foods. Cherry barbs & corys (of a species that like high discus temps) should be ok. I think "glow" tetras are often skirt tetras, they & the danios may nip discus & can outcompete them for food.

 

[platytetrafan]

Ok well I put two feeding cones in the tank & the discus are going for the food. I put enough food in one of the cones for them & then small amount into the tank for the other fish. I actually took some tetra granules & soaked them in a cup with some of the aquarium water & poured it into the cone & the discus were able to feed off of it. I also have cories so they are getting what floats to the bottom & the others get what floats mid tank. Am going to feed thawed frozen brine shrimp in the cones & bloodworm as well & see how that goes. So far I have had no nipping the glo lights tetras & bleeding heart tetras danios & cherry barbs really stick to their school & are not bothering the discus. Using the cones so the discus can get their share because they eat slower & then giving the rest of the fish a small amount seems to be working not so much competition for food. So far so good really enjoying the discus even though stunted they’re healthy & beautiful with alot of personality.

 

[johndiscuskeeper]

I think they should be absolutely fine in community tanks!