Would 50 adult Discus look crowded in a 740g?

[Swedgin]

As the title asks, would they?

I’m currently getting quotes in for a tank sized 11.5 x 2.6 x 3.3 feet (350x80x100cm), total of roughly 740 gallons (2800 liters)


By the end of next month I will have a total of 48 wild discus, and originally I just wanted to put my 20 blue/red/browns in, but since I was forced to remove my pike cichlids from my 325 containing also the green discus, I will have to move things around a bit, as I really don’t want to get rid of the pikes. They are quite big, about 10” and 12”.

The current stock situation is as follows (all have some dither fish in with them, mostly Corydoras):

190 gal with 8 Heckels (5 more coming)
220 gal with 11 blue (9 more coming)
325 gal with 15 green (1 more coming)

Now I have the following options (the 740 would replace the 190):

1: Blues to 740, heckels to 220, greens stay in 325, rid of Pikes

2: Blues + Heckels to 740, greens to 220, pikes to 325

3: Blues and Greens to 740, heckels to 220, pikes to 325

4: blues + heckels to 740, greens stay in 325, pikes to 220

5: blues + greens to 740, Heckels to 325, pikes 220

6: all wilds to 740, pikes to 325, new undetermined fish to 220, I like the idea of an Altum only tank

Hope this makes sense and doesn’t look like I’ve lost the plot ��

Any and all input will be greatly appreciated.

[brewmaster15]

Tobi,
I have kept 20-25 Adults in a 125 gal tank. They were fine with good water changes and filtration but I didnt like it. They loose the ability to interact. To take up territory and spar and display. I much better like 10 -13 Adults per 125 gal. Your 50 fish per 740 gals falls in that range roughly.

I would not mix the blues, greens and heckels. I have many times and they do ok but they always seem to do better separate in the long run.

hth,
Al

[Swedgin]

Thanks Al,

the loss of their natural behavior is what I’m worried most about.

I’ve always liked having them in separate tanks, just because it seems more natural and “pure” for lack of a better word.

But here in Dubai it’s really hard to find a suitable home for the Crenicichla, as there are only very few more serious fish keepers with a suitable setup. It’s more like the rehoming of pets than selling a couple of fish. Too much empathy for my own good,

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Tobi, I would suggest keeping your stock levels low with wild discus. Packing them in like domestics does them a disservice IMO and is counter productive to what you wish to achieve...natural behaviors and possible spawning.
Pat

[Hidan]

While I have no expertise with wilds & am a relative newbie with Discus. I would absolutely love to see that 740 gal tank with 50 wilds of all different varieties and some dither fish.
That would be a dream tank for me. Yeah they may not behave as naturally as a species only tank, but man it will be a sight to behold. Think I could sit and watch such a tank for a few hours every day.

[Swedgin]

Currently the tendency is to what Al and Pat already suggested, if all goes to plan it will house 24 blue/red wilds and a bunch of nice plecs. Also got my hands on some Corydoras amapaensis and serratus, which I am really excited about. Probably add a nice school of some or other tetra as dietary supplement, we shall see.

Tank has been downsized to 720, changed length and height for better fitment for the space intended

[danotaylor]

I picked option 1 but would not get rid of the pike's...but that wasn't an option :p