Feasible to have discus in planted tank conditions?

[Justikanz]

Hi. Just doing some research for the eventual rescaping of my current 4ft tank. Delayed due to ich outbreak but hey, on the bright side, more time to do research!

I am interested in discus (always been) and would like to keep them in the re-scaped tank. Problem is, a lot of guys, including the famous Jack Watterly, said that the discus should not be kept at planted tank conditions. The main reason being the lower planted tank temperature (26C -28C) as compared to the discus temperature of >28C.

Any one had tried keeping discus at the lower temperature? Would other cichlids that normally accompany the discus, i.e. the angels and the festivums, be ok at the lower temperature?

Your advice, please. Thank you.

[gannaway]

Hi there, I'm far from an expert so don't ask any tech stuff, however I have successfully kept 6 discus in a planted 5 ft tank for the past 3 years. Only one died due to injury after jumping out of the tank, a common problem in the early days. Despite having often laid eggs, I have only once succeeded in raising offspring & then only 1 of the offspring has survived until now (1.5 yrs). I'm presently experiencing an algae problem so will introduce some SAE's shortly. Tank temp. is around 26-28 Celcius, fish love it but a bit of a strain on the plants. Anyway, good luck, it's worth sticking with!

[rocketshrimp]

Should be possible. Remembered seeing a LFS (simei pet safari, sam & yick?)...the 8 ft display tank, discuses in fully planted tank. It was in an air con place...so, temp should be quite low.

[Sidious]

i was thinking of planted with discus and angels.... they live together in the wilds so y not... but i only fear the temp problem with discus...

[Wackytpt]

It is not advisable to keep discus with angels

[lorba]

Discus and angels are pretty fine to be kept together, but make sure you have a big tank and ample space. Once it is spacious, and the territory are clearly defined, they actually mix well.

I've 25 heckel and 12 altums together in a 18ft planted and they actually school together. The shy heckel actually followed the altums and are not shy to swim around.

[Wackytpt]

Oic. Someone told me before that discus and angels don't mix

[mordrake]

i think the main problem is that angels get to the food much faster than discus. without space and well distributed food during feeds, the discus may not get their fair share.
other than that, altums and wild discus ...... woot!!

Roland - hv pics of your 18ft?

[lorba]

for the big tank, about 24 frozen BW cubes are added daily. There are a lot of other tetras in the tank as well. Some are thrown in the open and some among the plants. So the discus and angels and others have their own spaces to get the food from.

There's some talk about parasites on the 2 types (wild) that can wipe out either one. It may be true, but I have not experienced it. Probably just make sure that the fishes are not stressed or sick when introduced into the tank.

modrake, the tank is here. Taken before altum and discus are introduced.

[Justikanz]

I had kept discus and angels together in 4 ft, before I lower the tank temperature. They were ok. Until spawning time, that is! The angels killed my discus when they are spawning! Now, I am hesistant to combine the 2 together... Thinking of discus and festivums, instead...

But then again, it is a 4ftx2ftx2ft only... Maybe I should just stick to angels... Oh well, that's what this thread is for... Doing research...

[mordrake]

I had kept discus and angels together in 4 ft, before I lower the tank temperature. They were ok. Until spawning time, that is! The angels killed my discus when they are spawning! Now, I am hesistant to combine the 2 together... Thinking of discus and festivums, instead...

But then again, it is a 4ftx2ftx2ft only... Maybe I should just stick to angels... Oh well, that's what this thread is for... Doing research...

spawning time... that's one major headache when keeping angels.
i set up a 3ft planted with 4 young adult discus for my father in law.
all was fine and rosy until he went and got a pair of angels.
the angels were juves when introduced so was quite peaceful for a while.
then one day, they decided to grow up and spawn....
end result = injured discus cowering in a corner.
now that the angels are adult sized, they are the big bully when it comes to feeding time so the 4 discus have lost their double chins and are looking abit thin. pull out the angels? my FIL wouldn't hear of it.

if you keep altums, i guess one less worry would be the spawning issue.
really difficult to spawn altums.

[mordrake]

for the big tank, about 24 frozen BW cubes are added daily. There are a lot of other tetras in the tank as well. Some are thrown in the open and some among the plants. So the discus and angels and others have their own spaces to get the food from.

There's some talk about parasites on the 2 types (wild) that can wipe out either one. It may be true, but I have not experienced it. Probably just make sure that the fishes are not stressed or sick when introduced into the tank.

modrake, the tank is here. Taken before altum and discus are introduced.

wow that's one major setup.
maybe can do a detailed writeup on it in the tank gallery section?

to green chapter.