discus

TankMAster

I've read that discus fair better in a smaller tank with more Discus as it is a shoaling fish. The reason for a small tank is that they compete for food better instead of sitting in the corner of the tank.

kitten_penang

they grow up to be the size of dinner plates.did you consider that??

TankMAster

Okay .....should I listen to you or a Professor of Biochemistry who just happens to specialize in fish nutrition, genetics and by the way . . .he is a professional Discus breeder since 1988.

He is really schooled when it comes to Discus. He advises to put them in smaller tanks and grow them up instead of having a small Discus that's in a 4ft and sits in the corner, not getting the sufficient food supply. He wont eat unless he is competing with other Disci for food. So unless you have 50+ of these fish in a 4 foot, the chances of the fish living 1 month is very low. You should forget about keeping Discus if you are considering keeping just one or two.

Do you even know about Discus behavior? It's not just about size of the tank its about feeding and getting the water parameters just perfect. It's also about the overall environment and well being of the fish. You cant force him to eat. Smaller Discus are more difficult to take care of. Bigger ones are much less a worry. That's why its recommended to raise them in a smaller tank where there is less room and more competition.

He recommends that people start taking care of Blue Rams first because their requirements are exactly the same except the Rams prefer a minimum temperature of 26*C (79F) and Discus a minimum temperature of 30*C (86F). If you cant take care of rams, forget about Discus completely.

It is not advised to keep Discus in a community tank because of its high temperature requirements.

From what I've seen, his Discus are of a very high standard.

kitten_penang .. Have you ever owned a Discus or any of the other fish in the threads that you comment so readily on?

If I had not read through Prof Dirk Bellstedt's experience with Discus, I would have gone out and bought a Discus and it would have died.

There are specific requirements for Discus. From the volume of your filter, type of filter media, type of filter, flow rate,substrate, water parameters, feeding, food types, plants , tank size, number in a shoal, lighting etc.

If these variables just happen to be misread or misunderstood, the dream of raising a shoal of Discus to adult hood will be short lived.

Just a heads up to people already keeping Discus. Some of you may find it easy to raise but you may be raising an unhappy fish. Just follow the link and hear it from an experienced breeder who has more to say than what's been advised...we all can learn from this!

Dirk U. Bellstedt's advice on Discus

aunt kymmie

I found this post interesting. I keep my discus (6) in a 100gl (five feet in length) planted community tank and one year later I have a spawning pair. Fish only spawn when all conditions are "just right". I'm not disputing D. Bellstedt's advice but pointing out that raising a shoal from fry as compared to keeping adults is akin to comparing apples to oranges. I haven't visited the link you posted but it sounds like Dirk is focusing on raising fry and growing them out, rather than aquiring adult specimens.

PS. I just tried clicking on the link you provided but the web page couldn't be loaded??

mattfishgeek

that would be great if you could, i would appreciate it alot, thanks

mattfishgeek

thanx for the suggestion but i got the gallons wrong lol.

TankMAster

http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?t=1962

This link should work

aunt kymmie

That link takes me to a forum registration page. Is there anyway to read the article you were referencing without having to be a member of their forum??

Byron

I registered at the site, but do not at the moment have the time to read through 144 posts to pick out bits of info, so I will just provide some general comments on your (tankMAster) post if I may.

I don't disagree with most of what you have posted, but I would caution not to take things out of context.

Discus are shoaling fish, as are angels; and should always be maintained in a group in suitably sized aquaria. No one should ever keep a single discus or 2 (unless a breeding pair, quite another matter) in an aquarium. The discus will be constantly stressed.

Mattfishgeek, I looked under your Aquariums to the "discus" tank. A 24g tank is not anywhere near adequate size for 3 discus. To even hope tomanage healthy discus in that small a tank, you would need to do multiple water changes every day, if you were intending "small" dsicus to grow healthily. Adult discus would be severely stressed in that tank.

A group of 5 in a 90g aquarium is a suitable starting point.

mattfishgeek

how about asking me the size of my discus before saying any thing first please,