young discus problems

I recently brought 2 young discus off a breeder and got a runt discus for free. The two healthy discus are in my main 57 gallon tank doing well but the runt is in a hospital 7 gallon tank because it wasn't eating. It is now eating and doing great, and I'm planning to buy a fourth discus off the breeder about the same size as the runt.

I have two problems. I'm planning to add the runt with its future friend into the big tank, but I'm scared it will stop eating again and hide in the plants (heavily planted tank) because the older two will pick on it. Should I add it to the big tank about a week after I get the new discus , and if everything works out perfectly then will a school of four discus work?

Thanks!

 

Good morning and Welcome to Fish Lore!

I'm sure you will receive some responses to your questions before long.

How long have you had the Discus? Sometimes fish just need time to adapt to their new environment. As long as the fish isn't ill, it will eat when it gets hungry.
You may be better off waiting to add the two instead of just the one runt. It may help take some of the aggression off of the runt if this is what is happening.

Too, according to your Aquarium Profile Information, you do not know your readings for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. Having and knowing this information is crucial.

Do you have a test kit? If not, I would highly recommend the API Liquid Master Test Kit:


Best wishes for your fish! Hold on for more responses.

I hope you enjoy the site.

Ken

 

Discus especially take a week or 2 to feel comfortable give them time to adjust

 

Good advice for just about all new residents for your tank. Oh, and by the way, the API kit can be had here for about $5 less: hhttps://www.petmountain.com/product/aquarium-freshwater-test-kits/11442-107520/aquarium-pharmaceuticals-freshwater-master-test-kit.html
As has been said, testing your water is CRITICAL to success.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone! The runt discus was not eating for about 3+ weeks so I took him out and fattened him up (lucky he was still alive as he was so young.) and the master test kits coz around $80 in our petshops and right now I don't have that kind of money, but I do 2 water changes per week to make sure my water conditions fine

 

if your keeping discus make sure you do a minimum of 2x 50% changes a week with a substrate vacuum as you need to feed juvie discus at least 4 times a day.

 

here is my main tank

 

and heres my hospital tank with the runt discus waiting for his feed in the top corner (not a very attractive tank I know)

 

From what Ive been told by those that keep them, the bigger and more frequent the water changes the better. The reason why people do massive daily changes is because the discus put out a hormone in the water that inhibits growth....so if you want them to grow you have to do large, frequent changes.

 

+1 to Jaysee, I would encourage at least every other day at 50%. Juvies need feed 4-6 times a day. I would not add them to the big tank for at least 4 weeks. I know you want them in there sooner, but this is an important part.

 

I'm just worried the runts getting a bit too big for the 7gallon tank, but ill wait about a couple of weeks after I get the fourth discus
And I heard its best to keep discus in groups of either 2 or 6, would four be alright because my 57gallon might not be big enough?

 

You heard correct, 2 if they are a pair or 5-6 at least. they feel more calm, they are not really a schooling fish but enjoy each others company. in a 57 gl, I would have no issues keeping 5-6,( it is said 1 discus to every 10 gl) So, you would be slightly above that recommendation, but easily fixed with just upping another water change or 2. Prestine water is Key with Discus.

7 gl is a bit small for a QT tank, 20 gl would work better, but I would never recommend adding them to your existing tank before a long QT. the new Discus could be carrying a disease that would wipe out your main tank or the Discus in your main tank could be carrying a disease they are immune to. New Discus would be at a weaker stage with the stress of moving. the QT allows them to build their system up and be stronger for the new tank.

 

You heard correct, 2 if they are a pair or 5-6 at least. they feel more calm, they are not really a schooling fish but enjoy each others company. in a 57 gl, I would have no issues keeping 5-6,( it is said 1 discus to every 10 gl) So, you would be slightly above that recommendation, but easily fixed with just upping another water change or 2. Prestine water is Key with Discus.

The Discus at 5-6 fish: do you buy all at once? or you can buy 2-fish every week until you complete the 6-fishes?
Also does it have to be the same variety i.e. 6-pcs royal blue or 6-pcs pigeon blood. or you can mix?

 

would it be alright if I slowly added discus to make 6 over about a year or so? because I don't have enough money right now. And I also think my main tank might be slightly over stocked with 6 discus because I have a large variety of tetras (I didn't want them, I got given them as a birthday present.)

 

Everyone seems to have their own strategy when it comes to buying them. some by them all at once, others add when they come across something they like, so they buy one or 2 at a time. either way works, but it is very important to QT them if you add a couple every now and then. can you mix? absolutely.. some prefer one strain which is very pretty all in one tank , but many mix and match.
For me, as I learned the hard way and as a member on this forum named Slug will tell you, the most important part of keeping Discus is starting off with healthy Discus and making sure you QT any new arrivals.

 

would it be alright if I added juvinile discus to a tank with almost full grown discus in the future? because I don't think id be able to qt full grown discus in my 7gallon...

 

you could always return the tetras to your LFS. what kind of Tetras do you have? If it was me, I would first invest in a better size QT tank, 7 gl is a bit small to QT Discus.
I will also say that Juvies are much more work to bring up. if you going to do this over a year or so, why not save until you have enough for an adult, then continue that process. You want to choose healthy fish from a good breeder.

 

I have 20 tetras and I don't think the petshops will take them back. would the 7 gallon be enough to QT them for a couple of weeks, and when I get more ill get a bigger QTtank

 

it doesn't seem you have any choice at this point, I would make sure you keep an eye on em and keep up with water changes.

 

ok I got the discus home, and put it in my hospital tank. Its a bit bigger than the runt, but the runts picking on it and its crammed itself into a hollow log in the tank and doesn't look very good. I'm really worried about it so should I take both fish out and put them in my main tank, just take it out and put in my main tank, or just leave it?

 

I would leave it and just keep an eye on things, if the discus have come from different suppliers you have to keep a close watch as they will swap disease or whatever. one could be immune to it and the other not so they could both get sick.

Mass

 

discus are schooling fish an are much happier in groups of there own kind 5 7 9 ect. Maybe try getting enough of them to keep them happy an healthy

 

hmmm best practice for discus is to buy them as a batch.

Do not buy them one by one as once the alpha is formed and new discus added in will be bullied.

and if you add a juv into a tank of adults, the juv will eventually stunt

To me the best way to keep discus is to keep them in a bare tank, daily massive waterchanges and consistent multiples feed of high protein diet.