Newbie Question on Discus

[Metallic Sardine]

Hi guys,

Just bought 2 2-3"discus and am very unfamiliar with them except for their notorious reputation as being very sensitive to their water.

Whenever, I switch on my lights, I always see the 2 discus all black and hiding in corners. However, within 5-10minutes of switching on the lights, they are bright with their colours and swimming about. This happens everytime I switch on the lights and it makes me wonder if they are alright with the lights off.

Is this a common characteristic among discus? Are disucs owners familiar with this? Is this normal?

BTW, I have a 4 ft gravelled tank and other from these 2-3"discus, I also have about 40 neons, 50 rummy noses, 5 3" clown loaches, 2 3" bala sharks and 2 3" 6-banded loaches. I use a cannister filter as well as an under gravel.

Question is, is it good enough to have 20% of the water changed weekly? Just that these discus are so famous for their intolerance for nitrates and ammonia that it makes worried.

Also, can I ask if there are any good forums out there on discus? I would like to pick up more information on rearing them well.

Please advise.

Thanks in advance,

MetaSard

[mordrake]

go to this forum,
www.simplydiscus.com

for all the info. u need. btw, what u seeing is normal behaviour. discus are easily spooked but as long as there is enough cover in your tank, should be no problems.

also for juve discus like yours, shouldn't put in planted tanks.
more details on why can be read from above forum.
cheers

[Metallic Sardine]

Thank you Mordrake. Knowing that it is the normal behaviour of the discus puts my heart at ease.

BUT......the damn discus are eating my neons!!! I had 60 neons and wondered where they disappeared to and this morning I saw it, one of the discus was munching away on a dead neon!!! Darn it.....I have only about 10 neons left...but never mind la, at least I know the discus are happy knowing that they have a good appetite.....

I hope they dont attack the rummy nose tetras!!

Cheers,

MetaSard

[BT]

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On 9/20/2003 10:10:14 AM

Thank you Mordrake. Knowing that it is the normal behaviour of the discus puts my heart at ease.

BUT......the damn discus are eating my neons!!! I had 60 neons and wondered where they disappeared to and this morning I saw it, one of the discus was munching away on a dead neon!!! Darn it.....I have only about 10 neons left...but never mind la, at least I know the discus are happy knowing that they have a good appetite.....

I hope they dont attack the rummy nose tetras!!

Cheers,

MetaSard
----------------

haha..first time I heard of discus eating neons, its probably a dead neon before they started munching. Maybe they are really hungry, do you feed them well??
Juvenile discus don't do well in a planted tank, purely because their protein intake requirements are high when they are young. If not fed enough, they will become stunted and look really pathethic, nothing like the King of the Aquarium they should be.

As for your neons, there should be other causes for their disappearance or 'demise', so you should widen your search for the right cause.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers