Will 5 inchers kill 2 inchers?

[Oxboy]

Anybody every introduced small 2-inchers into a main tank only to have the established 4-5 inchers go after and kill them all? How important are hiding spots if introducing 2-inchers into an established main tank of adults?

My QT is ending for the Macs 2-inchers and I don't want a bloodbath in the MT upon transfer.

Thx!

[Vinni Smith]

I am pretty new to discus and am just learning myself.

However, about 2 1/2 months ago I purchased 5 2" pigeon bloods from Macs and put them in with 4" fish.
Everyone was cool and it has worked out wonderfully.

I am not saying all is good with doing it.
But it worked out for me.

Vinni

[brewmaster15]

You can mix them but the smaller ones may get picked on and may not grow as well due to competition... If you put hiding places in a tank, your small discus will use them and you may never see them... they will often not even come out for food which is not good.. I prefer zero hiding spots for discus.They usually get used to each other in time.

Hth,
Al

[Iminit]

I’ve done it before with no problems. Though as Al says they may not grow as big as the older ones. Even if they eat and don’t hide it’s like they never get the chance to grow as big. If you can I’d leave them in there qt tank till there 4” before adding to main tank. I’m now growing out 8 2 1/2” discus in a 45g. Had them for a month now and I’d say they grew an inch already. Been feeding at least 6x a day and changing 30g a day in water. How big is the tank there in now?

[Oxboy]

I’ve done it before with no problems. Though as Al says they may not grow as big as the older ones. Even if they eat and don’t hide it’s like they never get the chance to grow as big. If you can I’d leave them in there qt tank till there 4” before adding to main tank. I’m now growing out 8 2 1/2” discus in a 45g. Had them for a month now and I’d say they grew an inch already. Been feeding at least 6x a day and changing 30g a day in water. How big is the tank there in now?

Five 2-inchers in a 29 gal. Feeding 5x per day and 50% daily WC. They can stay in there for a while.

[peewee1]

I have had 4 to 5 6 1/2 inches with 1 4 1/2 inches. The big ones chase and fight but do not seem to notice the little one. He goes where ever he wants to. He is even sometimes first to the food if I hold it in the water for him to peck at.

[Vinni Smith]

I have had 4 to 5 6 1/2 inches with 1 4 1/2 inches. The big ones chase and fight but do not seem to notice the little one. He goes where ever he wants to. He is even sometimes first to the food if I hold it in the water for him to peck at.

That's pretty funny. Sounds like my little pigeon bloods.

[kev1310]

Five 2-inchers in a 29 gal. Feeding 5x per day and 50% daily WC. They can stay in there for a while.

No need to move them for a long time yet as long as you keep up water changes! I've grown out 9 discus in a 36x15x18 tank since they were 2", they're still there now and they're 5.5" at 10 months old.

[peewee1]

That's pretty funny. Sounds like my little pigeon bloods.

Maybe little discus can be like tiny dogs. The little dogs seem to have the biggest attitudes. They don't know how small they are while all of the time they act like they are the biggest dog in the world.

[Oxboy]

No need to move them for a long time yet as long as you keep up water changes! I've grown out 9 discus in a 36x15x18 tank since they were 2", they're still there now and they're 5.5" at 10 months old.

Egg to 5.5" in 10 months? Is that even possible? Sounds like an exaggeration, no offense.

[kev1310]

Perfectly possible They should have done most of their growing by 12 months old so 6" is quite possible by then.

discus 1.jpg

[above design]

Perfectly possible They should have done most of their growing by 12 months old so 6" is quite possible by then.

discus 1.jpg

Kev, those are really nice! Wow.. Great job !

-Mark

[Vinni Smith]

Those are beauties!

[seanyuki]

Great job with those discus.

Kev, those are really nice! Wow.. Great job !

-Mark

[kev1310]

Thanks guys!