Somethingfishie
02-09-2016, 02:40 PM
Hello!
So, I finally took the plunge and got some discus. 5 of them. Settling into their new home well, it has been a week. Two fully settled (as in happily pester my hand as I do daily cleaning). Other three are getting there. They came from a great little dedicated aquarium store in my town that has been there since the 80s.
I have 5 adult discus in a 55 gallon well planted tank. I ran it first for a year with just plants and some smaller fish (neons, glow light types). Went for a tall bowfronted one to make sure plenty of swimming and turning room. A week ago I added 5 discus. Three 5ish inchers, a 6 inch all beautiful large round and healthy looking and a little pale bug-eyed stunted 4 incher. Intend to let the littler fish stay and live out whatever time the have in too warm water, though the discus clearly have some interest in eating them...as they dwindle will just be a discus tank.
84.5 F, 0 ammonia/nitirite. 5-10 ppm nitrate. 6.8-7.2 ph (tap water is high so with daily water changes stays in that range). Daily small water changes (10 gallons) with larger ones twice a week (15 gallons). I test water every large change day. I think all is well but wanted to ask on a few things -
Pecking Order - They are working this out. I have guesses as how it will line up from watching. Is endless minor bickering just part of having them, or in time should they establish an order and moderate it some? Not terrible, no injury but the prettiest one is somewhat relegated to the hiding cave...anytime he comes out the fish angling for the top spot immediately chases him back there. I make sure he gets fed, and he is not hurt but wondering if I should accept that he is likely to be bottom fish and mostly be a hider? Sad if so as he is one of the nicest looking ones. I am inclined to leave it be as long as no injuries are happening.
Feeding - At the 5-6 inch size what is best for feeding amounts? Currently feeding 9am, 1pm and 5pm. Morning and evening feeding offer discus flakes. Mid-day always a frozen food (I alternate between brine shrimp, bloodworms and beefheart. Feed one frozen cube amount (defrosted and dribbled in make sure it gets eaten before messing the tank). They flakes are offered in about the same size as a frozen cube amount. This sound right? They all eat anything I give them happily.
Odd behavior - One discus is a little odd. It is the largest. He does not engage in aggression and the other do not get aggressive with it. He seems almost outside or above the pecking order, but...when others chase to much he tends to swim over and get between or nudge them. Like he is breaking them up. My guess is he might be top fish?
Thanks for any thoughts, like most new discus keeps I am excited and full of new questions. I chose to stick them in a glass box for life and want to make sure it is old age that gets them not poor care.
So, I finally took the plunge and got some discus. 5 of them. Settling into their new home well, it has been a week. Two fully settled (as in happily pester my hand as I do daily cleaning). Other three are getting there. They came from a great little dedicated aquarium store in my town that has been there since the 80s.
I have 5 adult discus in a 55 gallon well planted tank. I ran it first for a year with just plants and some smaller fish (neons, glow light types). Went for a tall bowfronted one to make sure plenty of swimming and turning room. A week ago I added 5 discus. Three 5ish inchers, a 6 inch all beautiful large round and healthy looking and a little pale bug-eyed stunted 4 incher. Intend to let the littler fish stay and live out whatever time the have in too warm water, though the discus clearly have some interest in eating them...as they dwindle will just be a discus tank.
84.5 F, 0 ammonia/nitirite. 5-10 ppm nitrate. 6.8-7.2 ph (tap water is high so with daily water changes stays in that range). Daily small water changes (10 gallons) with larger ones twice a week (15 gallons). I test water every large change day. I think all is well but wanted to ask on a few things -
Pecking Order - They are working this out. I have guesses as how it will line up from watching. Is endless minor bickering just part of having them, or in time should they establish an order and moderate it some? Not terrible, no injury but the prettiest one is somewhat relegated to the hiding cave...anytime he comes out the fish angling for the top spot immediately chases him back there. I make sure he gets fed, and he is not hurt but wondering if I should accept that he is likely to be bottom fish and mostly be a hider? Sad if so as he is one of the nicest looking ones. I am inclined to leave it be as long as no injuries are happening.
Feeding - At the 5-6 inch size what is best for feeding amounts? Currently feeding 9am, 1pm and 5pm. Morning and evening feeding offer discus flakes. Mid-day always a frozen food (I alternate between brine shrimp, bloodworms and beefheart. Feed one frozen cube amount (defrosted and dribbled in make sure it gets eaten before messing the tank). They flakes are offered in about the same size as a frozen cube amount. This sound right? They all eat anything I give them happily.
Odd behavior - One discus is a little odd. It is the largest. He does not engage in aggression and the other do not get aggressive with it. He seems almost outside or above the pecking order, but...when others chase to much he tends to swim over and get between or nudge them. Like he is breaking them up. My guess is he might be top fish?
Thanks for any thoughts, like most new discus keeps I am excited and full of new questions. I chose to stick them in a glass box for life and want to make sure it is old age that gets them not poor care.