New to Discus - Please Advise on the Tankmates Chosen

[n5762715]

Hey everyone,
I have bred Cichlids for ages and now I am starting to get over them a little.
So I have decided to setup a 4x 18 x 2ft aquarium. I have read a fair few books and believe I have a decent list of fish I want to have in this tank but I would love some advise from some people who actually have kept discus.
Cheers
Chris

6 x Discus
1 x Black Ghost Knife Fish
1 x Elephant Nose
2 x Blue Ram
2 x Bolivian Ram
3 x Flying Fox
2 x Clown Loach
2 x Bristle nose
1 x Red Whiptail
6 x Sterbai Cory Dora
10 x Glow light Tetra
10 x Cardinal Tetra

[Greggy]

See below.

6 x Discus - GOOD
1 x Black Ghost Knife Fish - BAD IDEA
1 x Elephant Nose - BAD IDEA
2 x Blue Ram - OK
2 x Bolivian Ram - OK
3 x Flying Fox - BAD IDEA (get 3 SAEs instead)
2 x Clown Loach - BAD IDEA (sometimes aggressive to Discus)
2 x Bristle nose - GOOD
1 x Red Whiptail - ??? (not sure about this one)
6 x Sterbai Cory Dora - GOOD
10 x Glow light Tetra - OK
10 x Cardinal Tetra - GOOD

Also consider Rummy Nose Tetras and Kuhlie Loaches.

Regards,

Greggy

[n5762715]

thanks greggy!

ok new list haha

8 x Discus
2 x Blue Ram
2 x Bolivian Ram
3 x Siamese Algae Eaters
5 x Khuli Loach
2 x Bristle nose
1 x Red Whiptai Catfish
6 x Sterbai Cory Dora
10 x Rummynose Tetra
10 x Cardinal Tetra

Also when setting this tank up, my idea is to have it as a highly planted tank. I have correct lighting ect. but I am wondering about substrate heating. How do I go about this and where do I buy something suitable from?
Cheers
chris

[Greggy]

Your new list looks good!

Forget about substrate heating... My plants go crazy and I don't use it or CO2 injection for that matter.

Regards,

Greggy

[dntx5b9]

I have 3 clown loaches in my discus tank, and no issues. My loaches are approaching 5".

[Robdog]

6 x Discus - I'd have an odd number but not more than six in a 4ft
1 x Black Ghost Knife Fish - OK but not with the elephant
1 x Elephant Nose - Not really good in a discus tank.
2 x Blue Ram - OK but might battle with Bolivians, good to watch tho
2 x Bolivian Ram - OK
3 x Flying Fox - crap, SAE's crap too once they get bigger, Otto's instead
2 x Clown Loach - not the best with discus
2 x Bristle nose - Great
1 x Red Whiptail - good, probably won't compete well for food with BN's though, maybe x2
6 x Sterbai Cory Dora - OK
10 x Glow light Tetra - OK
10 x Cardinal Tetra - OK but will become food for discus or BGK unless they are bought at 2cm+

Overall if you stick to this stocking list you will have a very busy tank, especially on the bottom level with the cory's BN's and rams

Good luck

[Robdog]

Sorry double post

[apistodiscus]

Your Balck Ghost Knife Fish will love your tetras :lol: . It's what they feed on in nature

[godprint]

6 x Discus - I'd have an odd number but not more than six in a 4ft
10 x Cardinal Tetra - OK but will become food for discus or BGK unless they are bought at 2cm+

Overall if you stick to this stocking list you will have a very busy tank, especially on the bottom level with the cory's BN's and rams

Good luck

hi guys,

u mention the tetras become food for discus,

are they Good Food or bad food??

i wouldn't mind letting the discus enjoy them...if it's good for them. i can get tetras @ a rather low price...

thanks! please advice!

[ILLUSN]

healty live food is good food.

make sure you quarentine and worm them before they go into the discus tank, or else they may infect your fish with parracites.

[godprint]

healty live food is good food.

make sure you quarentine and worm them before they go into the discus tank, or else they may infect your fish with parracites.

hi Illusn,

sorry, may i ask what's the meaning of worming them??

thanks!!

[ILLUSN]

Give them a dose of levimenisole and prazi (not together), will purge their guts of most internal paracites, so they dont transfer them to your fish.

[godprint]

Give them a dose of levimenisole and prazi (not together), will purge their guts of most internal paracites, so they dont transfer them to your fish.

thanks again illusn!

is there anyother methods?

i don't seem to quite understand the terms... i'm really sorry!

[ILLUSN]

prazi and levimenisole are drugs you can buy at a lfs or at places that sell wormers for live stock.

have a read of the sticky's in the medication section.