It's a fish store. The owner packed them in because it makes the fish look better. He expects that they will sell soon. They would not do well long term in that small a tank.
The other day I saw 6 heckel cross discus about close to 4 inches in length in a small aquarium of just 30 inches long by 15 inches high and 15 inches wide in a local fish store. The discus fish seemed happy and was swimming to front of aquarium, were erect and not gasping or stressed out at all. The shop guy said that he changes about 50% water daily and it just had one sponge filter and barebottom with no wood or plants. Can discus survive like this in a small tank for years with proper care and water changes. Has anyone kept discus in small aquariums.
It's a fish store. The owner packed them in because it makes the fish look better. He expects that they will sell soon. They would not do well long term in that small a tank.
Mama Bear
Fairy Lake Discus Palace, in San Francisco had or has most of his Discus in 20 gallon, maybe the largest Discus tank was 40 gallons , he's been selling and breeding at this place since around 1965.
Cliff
Thanks I guess like all fish stores they keep fish just to sell them off but as you say the discus seems to look good in a small tank