Can Discus Fish Be Kept In A Community Tank?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Yes, discus fish thrive in a community tank with other freshwater species

. The best partners for discus fish in an aquarium are calm, schooling fish, including species from the characin fish family.

Can I keep 3 discus?

Keeping just 2 or 3 often results in 1 or 2 of them being badly mistreated, by 1 or 2 others, which produces a lot of stress and may well result in a fatality. If your tank is not large enough (min. around 55 gals), don’t attempt to keep less than 5 discus, or you’re asking for trouble.

Do discus fish need friends?

These fish are active when kept in a group but can sometimes be shy and need a place to hide.

They love the same water conditions as the discus and are quite compatible because they occupy the bottom of the water column

. Keep an eye on activity levels to ensure the group is not too busy for your discus.

How many discus should be kept together?

Discus should be kept together, and those of different varieties will also school together meaning you can have great color variations.

A minimum of 5 is recommended

, but more will look better and create a sturdier group.

What is the lifespan of a discus fish?

In home aquariums, discus live for

an average of 10 years, but can live up to 15 years

, and can grow up to 8 inches.

How long does discus fish live?

Discus fish, kept in good conditions, can live for

up to 15 years

and reach sizes of up to 20 centimetres / 8” in diameter! They are fully grown at the age of approximately 2 to 2.5 years!

Can you put angelfish with discus?

Angelfish are usually peaceful, but they can be aggressive when feeding and breeding. Discus fish are docile and may be deprived of food by angelfish.

You can put them together but make sure the discus fish is eating

.

Can neon tetras live with discus?

As we discussed earlier this is important because discus fish are pretty prone to stress. What is this? Although slightly lower temperatures are usually recommended for Rummynoses than Discus, hobbyists have found that

the tetras usually do just fine in their warm Discus tanks

.

Can you put betta with discus?

At first, the thought of keeping betta fish with discus might not seem like the best idea. However, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad pairing.

Successfully mixing betta fish with discus is definitely possible

.

Can you keep discus in a 30 gallon tank?

Registered.

a 29 gallon tank is fine for young discus

. i would find them a larger tank before they get anywhere near 4 inches. they need space to swim in order to be happy.

Can I keep discus in a 40 gallon tank?

A 55G is pretty much min for a discus tank.

4 fish would do ok in that

. I personally wouldn’t keep any less than 4 in anything less than a 55G. If the tank was totally bare, I would keep 6 in a 55G.

How many discus can I keep in a 55 gallon tank?

3-5 discus should be doable in a 55gal aquarium as long as water changes are kept up with. A general rule you can follow is

one discus per 10 gallons

. Since these fish are tall, do not keep them in shallow tanks.

Is discus peaceful?


Discus are generally calm, peaceful fish

, but as cichlids, they can be aggressive toward one another, especially when attempting to pair off and spawn. Shy or submissive fish should be removed if they are unable to compete. Most serious hobbyists do not mix their discus with too many other species.

Can you keep only 2 discus?

Also discus being a shoaling species

a minimum number of at least six discus will need to be kept

. So with this information so far we can see that a tank of at least 60 gallons will need to be used for keeping discus. The only exception for this is if you have a bonded breeding pair.

Can I have just one discus?


Most people would recommend to keep a few discus in a school

. They seem to feel more comfortable and less stressed out in a group in very clean water. They should swim in the middle and the front more often when they are less stressed out. It is not common to see beautiful discus in a community planted tank.

How old is a 2 inch discus?

A 2 1⁄2 inch discus fish is only

three months old

when they are shipped to customers. The growth rate from 2 1⁄2 inch to 4 inch keeping the fish in a small aquarium will only take four more months.

Do discus really need daily water changes?


Discus fish don’t require daily water changes unless they are juveniles

, and you want to grow them to their maximum potential. However, they still need frequent water changes, and you should certainly do it if you want to raise a healthy, big, and beautiful fish.

Is salt good for discus fish?

Discus seem to thrive with water changing conditions anyway, so

a adding a SMALL amount of salt can help

. Plus if used with interpet number nine , this will wipe out a bacterial infection better if used the same time as the salt.

Do discus fish need light?

Aquarium Requirements

Intense lighting can actually stress out discus fish and may harm the health of these delicate, expensive pets. However, despite their fondness for darkness, they do come from the tropics — so make sure they receive

10 to 12 hours of light a day

.

Why are discus sensitive?


Discus are very sensitive to ammonia, nitrite, and changes in water temperature and quality

. Thus, it is important to keep their aquarium water exceptionally clean, and temperature constant.

How often do you feed discus?

The question we are asked most often is, “What do you feed your discus, and how often do you feed them.” Discus enjoy a varied diet consisting of high-quality nutrients, but they also like their goodies.

Adult discus are fed twice daily, and younger fish are fed three times a day or more

.

Can I keep guppies with discus?


Yes, the guppies should be quite compatible with the discus

– i’ve done it myself – no problems. However, yes, the temp is generally too high for them & it will shorten their life span. It’s that’s a combination of fish that suits you, go for it !

Can you keep Gouramis with discus?

An interesting feature of Gouramis is their lung-like organ that helps them breathe well in oxygen poor water. Because the higher temperature water favored by discus fish,

Gouramis are a type of fish that will do well in this same discus environment

. Dwarf Cichlids are also a good choice for discus fish tank mates.

Can discus live with goldfish?

Can cichlids live with discus?

Since Discus are the more sensitive fish, potential tank mates should adapt to their preferred water conditions.

It’s possible to keep Discus with Dwarf Cichlids such as Kribensis and Blue Rams

. You can also keep Discus with Angelfish but only in a bigger tank.

Do discus eat snails?

Mine never bothered my Discus.

They would share food, when I fed sinking foods

. They can reach 6′′ pretty easily, and are social fish. If you like them, and want to commit to a small school, they are very good snail hunters.

Are discus fish easy to keep?

Discus fish are one of the most beautiful freshwater fish in the hobby, known for their spectacular colors and large, circular shape. However,

they’re notorious for being extremely difficult to keep

, with Internet forums often recommending strict practices like 100% water changes every day.

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.