dylhynes
01-14-2016, 11:10 AM
As the title says I work at a pet store. 2 days ago as we were opening up the store a guy came in with 2 Discus. He told us his tank broke open and he couldn't keep them anymore so he wanted to know if we had space. He also said they were a mated pair and had reproduced before but I am skeptical as to wether he is telling the truth or not, these fish seem to be in rough shape.
Our store doesn't carry many exotic cichlids, mostly just livebearers and tetras. I do have some experience with fish though, I just sold my 46 bowfront after my 11 year old Angels died. I had to move away for University so it wasn't practical for me to take it with me. After listening to people in the pet store ask all day if these pretty fish will fit in their 10 gallon tanks I couldn't help but take them home with me. I bought a 30 gallon tank on the way home to keep them in and moved everything over from my planted 20 gallon. Unfortunately the 20 gallon had just started cycling so the tank these Discus are in isn't cycled either. I am keeping Ammonia under 0.25 ppm though with 70% water changes daily at least.
Both of these Discus seem to have stunted growth, one is about 4" and the other about 3". Their eyes seem very big for their bodies. Their fins were also a bit ragged when I got them but they have seemed to go back to normal now. There is no clamping going on and both have been eating non stop since I took them in.
I am aware that Discus do best in groups of 5+ and that this 30 gallon tank (36" x 12" x 16") is too small for that. I don't believe that they are a mated pair, so I am guessing they would need more Discus to feel secure. I would really like to keep these fish but I don't think I can fit anything over 30 gallons in my apartment. If I got a third discus for the 30 gallon would that just cause more problems rather than fix any ? I am already kind of attached to the fish so I am hoping that its possible for me to keep them. Any advice on my situation would be appreciated. Sorry for the long winded post, this all happened pretty quickly. Thanks.
9340693407
Our store doesn't carry many exotic cichlids, mostly just livebearers and tetras. I do have some experience with fish though, I just sold my 46 bowfront after my 11 year old Angels died. I had to move away for University so it wasn't practical for me to take it with me. After listening to people in the pet store ask all day if these pretty fish will fit in their 10 gallon tanks I couldn't help but take them home with me. I bought a 30 gallon tank on the way home to keep them in and moved everything over from my planted 20 gallon. Unfortunately the 20 gallon had just started cycling so the tank these Discus are in isn't cycled either. I am keeping Ammonia under 0.25 ppm though with 70% water changes daily at least.
Both of these Discus seem to have stunted growth, one is about 4" and the other about 3". Their eyes seem very big for their bodies. Their fins were also a bit ragged when I got them but they have seemed to go back to normal now. There is no clamping going on and both have been eating non stop since I took them in.
I am aware that Discus do best in groups of 5+ and that this 30 gallon tank (36" x 12" x 16") is too small for that. I don't believe that they are a mated pair, so I am guessing they would need more Discus to feel secure. I would really like to keep these fish but I don't think I can fit anything over 30 gallons in my apartment. If I got a third discus for the 30 gallon would that just cause more problems rather than fix any ? I am already kind of attached to the fish so I am hoping that its possible for me to keep them. Any advice on my situation would be appreciated. Sorry for the long winded post, this all happened pretty quickly. Thanks.
9340693407