Discus Question

[arKat17]

Background

I have a 75g African Cichlid tank and a 10g community and a 14g community.

I recently moved the Africans from a 36g to the 75 so now I have an empty 36g to move my community fish into and get rid of the 10/14g.

So here's the question.

Stocking List - 36g
1 Male Bolivian Ram
1 Male Gold Gourami
3 Rainbow Tetra
5 Red Tetra
1 Glassfish
1 Bristlenose Pleco

The question is, there's a 3 inch "Sunset Orange" discus at my LFS that has been there for about 6 months now. Every fish this guy sells is healthy as a clam and its the only place I buy fish. The point is, can ONE discus survive in a 36g (very well filtrated w/Fluval 405, Aqueon HOB) with community fish?

I plan on putting natural round rocks, a 3-foot-tall piece of drift wood in the middle and Java ferns all over the place. It will be great for the Bolivian Ram for sure, as it will be for the other fish. But is 36g good enough for a discus?

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[Sasquatch]

It could work, but I don't think it's a very good idea.

Discus, especially wild one, are very demanding of water quality and ideal water parameters for discus are pretty extreme (very soft, very acidic water). There's also the question of temperature with most discuss tanks being kept around 30°C (86°F).

An adult discuss will also get much larger that any of your other fish and a 36g is on the small side for adult discuss. Though they're generally docile, this could lead to aggressive behaviour.

A second golden gourami and/or a proper school of glass fish would probably be a better option for your tank.

[sailor]

I second Sasquatch's reply

[3dees]

It can work but you have to realize that discus are schooling fish and unlike tetras they are not happy alone. even 2 or 3 is a bad idea. 6 or more is ideal and your tank is too small.

[Bristley]

Agree with the above comments. Could be done, but probably not the best for the fish.

[Lady Hobbs]

Agree with all above. Discus are not solitary fish. They are skittish and want their friends with them.

[annageckos]

I wouldn't try it. Discus are large schooling fish. They are also sensivtive to water quality and need warmer water then most fish along with a lower ph. They can get stressed easily by other fish and out competed for food too. When people do have a mixed tank with discus it is set up around the discus's needs.

[domjd05]

With frequent water changes he may survive for some time, but I'll doubt if you ever see him... without tankmates of his own kind he is likely to hide all the time, probably to the point of starvation/disease.

[EmmanuelJB]

Yes 1 discus could live in a 36 gallon, BUT they are schooling fish, and more than one would be too much. I would not do it (well maybe I would.... lol, but I don't recomend it).

EDIT: One thing I was just thinking is get rid of the other fish, and buy a pair of discus, and that might work ok in a 36 gallon if you keep the water PERFECT and they are a proven pair. You might even be able to try a few corrys or a small school of cardinal tetras with them.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

A single Discus won't just be skittish, it will pine away and die. They are extremely social fish. Yes the tank is big enough for a single, but it would be a waste of money for the single fish, and it would be a waste of a good fish.

[WhiteDevil]

I agree with the above, a few are fine in a BB 36g as 2" and under but once they start to grow you are looking at 100+g tank.

I had 5 in a 45g tall as 2" fish now they are 3" fish and in a 210g with 11 angels and I have 9 more discus going in to the 210 on tuesday once QT is done.

They are extremely social, cannot be housed alone or as a single specimen, as stated before they will wither and die in a dark corner of your tank.

My 5 were very skittish as the only big fish in the tank with a bunch of small tetras, now they are with the angels and SAE's and tetras they come to the top, eat from your hand and are out and about now.

I dont recommend these fish to just anyone, there is ALOT of work to do before you can even pick out your fish, RO water is a MUST(argueable but in the long run its the best) Ph controllers,ect.

[Cermet]

I agree with all the posts - a single discus is a bad idea, as is just three and that tank is way too small for a school. I have a school of ten and they are happy, social and swiming around but have a 75 gal (which will be too small once they all get over three inches.:fish: )

In any case, as from my bad experience (dumb but at least the fish recieved no harm :ssmile: ), be sure to cycle your tank before you consider any fish!:22: