Discus tank size?

thefirethief

thefirethief

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Feb 15, 2006
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Scotland
This is purely for later reference, something I could always consider.

What is the minimum tank size for keeping a few discus?

I have a spare 34G (80cm x 46cm x 35cm)...

Ive read they need about 6 or 7 gallons each.
They do best in groups of at least 5ish.
Ive also read of people having experiences of them in pairs.
2 or 3 discus in a 34G = bad news?
 
Discus are a schooling fish. They need to be kept in groups to keep them happy and healthy. I like to think of at the very least ten gallons per discus which would mean the minimum size to be about 40 gallons. Of course, bigger is always better. A 40 gallon you might get away with four but uneven numbers are better and I would not consider any less then five. So by those standards, a 55 would work o.k. They can grow to the size of a small dinner plate and need the room. Also discus like super clean water and daily water changes are a must especially with juvies because they need to be feed so often;like five or six times a day in small amounts. This can mess up your water quality in a real hurry if water changes do not happen. Also poor water quality will cause disease in discus such as HITH(hole in the head).

Hope this helps.

Marinemom
 
I have 6 in my 54 gallon but I would never imagine getting any more. The general rule of thumb for them is 1 per 6 - 7 gallons but the bigger you can go the better. Also, some people swear by keeping discus in bare bottom tanks, thats on you and I prefer to keep mine in a planted tank, just seems to make them feel more comfortable.

As far as how many is best, it really depends on the fish, if it is already a pair they may be fine. Discus are cichlids... they get pretty aggressive and the reason 6+ is the preferred number is because it spreads out aggression. My first shot with discus was pretty hard to watch due to the fact that the 3 juveniles will establish a pecking order... the smaller one however seemed to get ALL the aggression and inevitably died.

They are a great fish to keep and just a joy to watch. Lots of maintenance but they are not as sensitive as people have you believe. The biggest concern for new discus keepers is the first 2 weeks... they are very shy and will refuse to eat, just remember to give them time to get used to you and their new surrounding.
 
you will be fine. as a QT tank i keep 2 discus in a 20 gallon. i have had to keep 4 discus in a 28gallon for a month before while i got a few things situated. i say that as long as you keep a discus tank clean you can learn the limits of the tank by gradually adding fish.
 
Minimum tank size that i recommend is a 40 gallon. Anything smaller and you're pushing your bio limit....not necessarily crowding the tank. I have and do keep discus in super heavy stocking concentrations as high as 1 fish per gallon...the secret is a super biological filter (wet/dry is a must) and water changes...with water changes being the key. You can keep 20 fish in a 40 gallon....if you have the right filtration and do enough water changes. So, with all new discus keepers, I HIGHLY recommend understocking your tank (no more than 1 discus per 10 gallons). This makes things easier on newbies as far as water quality goes. But regardless of tank size, I recommend 5 discus as a MINIMUM. This is to help spread aggression around and establish a good pecking order. Either way, the secret to keeping discus is good water quality. Good water quality is maintained by frequent water changes. DO NOT substitute water quality for water CLARITY by using filters. All filters do is concentrate the waste into one are where it is left to decompose and bacteria to convert the ammonia. Clean the filters weekly and do water changes as often as possible.

-Ryan
 
Thanks for the folks! Much appreciated. Its an increasingly appealling option. I guess if I could pick up a breeding pair then it could be a pretty good set up.
 
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