What fish can live with discus

[Martinshaver]

Hi, I am thinking of getting discus in a few months to a year and am wondering what fish I can put with them. I am wondering if Neon Tetras and also if ghost shrimp will work.

[Lola]

I've often read that neon tetras are not suitable to put with discus because of the higher tempatures that discus need and neons like cooler water, but cardinal tetras are just fine. I don't know anything about ghost shrimp but if you're going to lower your pH and water hardness you should check and see if the shrimp can live with those parameters. Any fish you choose should be able to tolerate the higher temps and they should be peaceful.

[Martinshaver]

Here are the tank conditions that the shrimp can live in:
Tank Conditions: 68-85°F; pH 6.5-8.0; KH 3-10

Also will the discus try and eat these guys as they are only 1 - 1.5" long at a mature state.

[ozone]

Hello there,

I see that your starting a tank and want to know what fish can be kept with discus.

I have kept discus for about 18 years and have found that they do much better on there own, however I have had blue rams in with discus as well as cardinal tatra's and corydorus catfish's and bristle nose catfish.

The results I have had with discus in a planted aquarium with other fish has not been very good compared to keeping them on there own in a barebottom aquarium. After years of keeping them I have found that if you want to have plants in the aquarium your better off having them in terracotta pots inside the aquarium,andhave the discus as the main show point of your tank and not the plants.

Blue rams blend in with discus well but they will beat up a very young discus as they get a bit territorial. You will save yourself alot of pain if you keep them in a bare bottom aquarium as they're not cheap.

Anyways good luck with your new setup

[BGTW]

Ditto, pal

[madhu]

With what fish will discus live is more important than what fish lives with discus. At any instance I would have discus on their own (after trying with angels, rams, corries, black ghost knife fish & tetras).

[Alight]

Neons don't do well at 85 F or higher. I had 18 Cardinal tetras and 3 neons in my Discus tank (I couldn't catch the 3 neons to remove them) when I upped the temperature and put in the Discus. All three of the neons died in about 3 weeks, and all of the Cardinal tetras are still alive and doing well, several months later.

I also have Otos (otocinclus catfish) in the tank with the Discus, and they are very happy--its a planted tank and the Otos are the cleanup crew for the algae. The Cardinal tetras do a good job of cleaning up the bits of food the Discus crumble and won't eat because its too small to bother with.

[ShinShin]

Discus will shred the ghost shrimp. Watched them do it.

[Cosmo]

Only other fish I'll keep with Discus are... other Discus :)
Jim

[Martinshaver]

so even in a planted tank with lots of hiding spots for the shrimp, its not a good idea :( I really love the little guys but I also love discus.

[Robin764]

I've had planted...I've had BB.....I've had neons...HAD being key word here. The discus when full grown will get them sooner or later!! lol

and shrimp!! Not a chance:)

Robin

I must say however the neons did well in planted with my discus, but early morning gravel cleaning that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years, changed me to BB real quick. The gravel was always nasty and dirty even 12 hour w/c's. After switching to BB all tanks, my neons did not last long at all. The discus either get active earlier than they do, or don't rest till later. Took about a week to take out a school of 15ish or so.

Robin

PS. They didn't die from tank temp...they just poofed:P

[ShinShin]

My tank that contained the ghost shrimp was a fully planted 90gal. tank.