Discus with Bala (silver) sharks?

[lesley]

Am setting up my planted tank for Discus. I wanted to have a few cleaning up type fish. I have four Bala sharks that Iwas thinking of putting in. They are very peaceful, but very quick.

Do you think they would disturb the discus??

Thanks, Lesley

[MGR]

Hello i'm no expert but i think the discus wount like the fast moving bala shark ;)



Mgr

[TnMark]

I have a Bala shark with my Discus for 8 months now. The shark is about 12 inches now. They grow very big. They don't seem to bother each other at all. Note however that Bala's are not good cleaners. My little cories do a much better clean up job

[lesley]

Thanks for your comments;

I hadn't realised that they were such a big fish!! I actually bought these guys (about 2" long) last weekend from a discus specialist lfs. The owner said that these sharks would be perfect with discus and for cleaning up. bought 4. Then when I saw them moving after food, I started to wonder.

Since I especially want cleaners because I don't want a community tank with discus, sounds like I had better get some cories.

[Nightowl]

Hi Lesley, you could get away w/ the sharks because its a large tank(I'm psychic!). They are peaceful, but they get BIG! They would then be using "space" in the bioload of the tank that you might otherwise use for discus.Also, judging by their shape they don't inhabit tranquil waters(???) and THEY might not be happy w/ the biotope design w/ plants, etc. I would recommend Rummynose tetras, cory cats(try some Sterbaes...real beauties). I have 10 Buenos Aires tetras in my 125g...fast moving, silver/greenish w/ red fins..the discus don't care!They are about 5-6 cm. They probably = one large discus in terms of bioload. Several large Bala sharks could definitely give discus the jitters....I would add stuff that stays smaller than your discus. JMO, of course. take care, J.T. :vanish: p.s. I also have a pair of rams & a spiny eel in the 125!The discus don't mind.

[lesley]

Hi JT,

surely don't want to take up space that could be taken up by discus!!!!!

will search around for some of those sterbaes.

Regards, Lesley