fishrule101

I think I got bit by the fish bug. This is how it started. I was going into my favorite fish store and i noticed that they got new fish. I was so happy because i was going to buy fish. Anyways i walked into the cichlid room to see if they had blue rams but they didn't so i was very sad. So i walked to the new fish tank and they had discus. At first i thought that discus were ugly fish but if you look at them they look very cool and pretty. Anyways i told the man that i wanted two discus but he said he wasen't selling them becasue they were too stressed out. He said they had a 20 to 32 hour trip.
And they were!!!!!! Almost all the discuses were at the bottom of the fish tank and the angelfish kept chasing them and picking on them. I was really mad at the angelfish. Any ways after that trip i fell in love with discus. I'm thinking of putting a pair in my 28 gallon fish tank. I have two platys, two swordtails,three very colorful tetras they look like sliver dollers except each are just one color like pink,green, and blue they look like glowlight dianos,and three ghost shrimp. I might think about taking out my new tetras because there acting mean to the other fish. My water temp is at 80 to 82 my fish are not bothered by the high temp. i have lots of hiding space because my fish tank is in a marine scenery so theres alot of rock and caves. So please give me tips and comments. I currently doing lots of reseach on the fish.

susitna-flower

Do you have any idea what kind of tetras you have? Could they be Congo tetras? If they are then need to be in a school, as most tetras do...they are lovely fish and shouldn't be aggressive, if kept in a proper school.

As for discus, they are really hard to keep in a community tank. They need a "deep" tank, and one that is a minimum of 30 gallons, I am sure this would be WITHOUT any other fish.

The thing about discus is that they need warmer temperatures than most fish thrive in, AND have to have pristine water conditions. Most people do not want to invest the amount of money necessary to feed TOP quality food, or do as many water changes as required to keep nitrates down to 5.....Many people also use RO water filters, which is added cost.

I don't usually discourage people from expanding their interest areas, but unless you are financially prepared, these fish can be heart breakers....

fishrule101

they are not congo tetras the name on the glass said valintine or something like that. I think i can handle the water changes part. How can discus need a 30 all by them selfs?

susitna-flower

Because they grow to between 6-7 inches , and have to be counted more like 1 cubic inch per gallon of tank. This would be for a pair. I am just telling you what I have read on them......I am sure there are lots of folks here that know more about them than I do.

fishrule101

If I can't put discuswhat kind of can i put the looks or reminds me of discus? What are the names of the types of cichlids i can put in my fish tank? Like german blue rams and the cokotoo something like that.

capekate

Discus are really beautiful fish for sure, but you would have to realize that you have too many fish in that tank to keep Discus. Also, they need water temperatures of at least 82-86* and there are few other fish that can tolerate that high a temp. Because of their delicate size they need plenty of open swimming areas as they can get pretty stressed out and will flash all over the tank, at the risk of injury on any decorations its a good idea to go with a tank that is fairly bare. I think that I would advice going with a few more of each species you already have, gain more experience with them before trying the more expensive fish such as Discus.
You can try German Blue Rams in your tank, maybe a pair. Or the Bolivian rams, I am told are a more hardy d.cichlid.