Possible Trouble?

[glenwood]

OK so I've had a 72 gallon tank for about 5-6 years now and most of the fish I have, have already been in the tank for 4+ years which are...

-1 Red Finned Shark (5 inch)
-2 Silver Dollars (5-6 inch)
-1 Albino Claw Frog (5 inch; very well fed and peaceful, did eat a few tetras before I moved them to the 20 gallon tank)
-1 Pleco? the algae eating catfish. (10 inch)
-2 Clown Loaches (4 & 6 inch)
-2 Common Hatchets (2.5-3 inch)
-1 Albino Cory (3 inch)
- 1 Black Ghost Fish (7-8 inch)
-4 Glass Cats (4 inch)

I found out about the Discus online and looked arround and found some beautiful neon blues ones and a bright spotted orange and white one that I want to add to the tank (both are about 4 inches long already for only 40 dollars a peice)

Will any of these tank mates cause a problem with the Discus?

edit:I keep the water tempature at 79, and do water changes every 1-2 weeks.

[Disgirl]

Is this a joke or are you really serious???
Barb

[Eddie]

Welcome to Simply! I am not sure about those tankmates but I'd be leery of that 10 inch pleco. I know many have kept plecos and discus together but If a pleco that size gets on a discus at night, it may be the end of that fish. :(


Also, temp would need to be upped to at least 82F minimum. Another thing to consider and I urge you strongly to quarantine the new fish. The difficult thing is adding your discus to a tank thats been well established for a long time. There may be a few things running around the tank that could affect your discus.

Eddie

[Eddie]

Is this a joke or are you really serious???
Barb

ROTFLMAO.....Barb! Dont be too rough on the newcomer!

Eddie

[glenwood]

No this is not a joke, I am being serious. I read arround alot that the temp. should be arround 79-86 so didn't know if I needed to change it. I will pump it up a bit though.

About the Pleco, well I have 2 silver dollars of similar size to the discus' already so I don't think he would bother them too much. He has his fav spot under a rock he likes to stay most of the time.

Really my main concern is will any of the fish be agressive towards the guys. Mainly the silver dollars.

[Eddie]

No this is not a joke, I am being serious. I read arround alot that the temp. should be arround 79-86 so didn't know if I needed to change it. I will pump it up a bit though.

About the Pleco, well I have 2 silver dollars of similar size to the discus' already so I don't think he would bother them too much. He has his fav spot under a rock he likes to stay most of the time.

Really my main concern is will any of the fish be agressive towards the guys. Mainly the silver dollars.

Discus produce an excess amount of slime and this is like sweet honey to a pleco. Once he gets a small taste.....he is gonna want a BIG taste. Trust me

Eddie

[Disgirl]

No this is not a joke, I am being serious.

OK then, if you are serious we are here to help you! Welcome to
SD! Your tank would probably not be a good home for discus for many reasons. You may want to set up a tank for just them, they are worth getting another tank for! We will be happy to help you if you have questions.
Barb :)

[Eddie]

You may want to set up a tank for just them, they are worth getting another tank for!
Barb :)

Totally agree, especially if this is your first time with discus.

Eddie

[akumastew]

Looking at your stocking list.

One concern would be over stocking.

You have 72 gallons.

You have 71" of fish already.

Normally people allow 1" of fish per gallon, which allow you 72" of fish.

People on here commonly state 10 gallons per Discus.

If you are doing large water changes reguarly, then it may not be an issue.

You might want to check your water parameters each day, and see if your water changes keep the bad stuff to minimum levels.

- Stew

[Cakes]

If you must add Discus I would get rid of:

-1 Red Finned Shark (5 inch)
-2 Silver Dollars (5-6 inch)
-1 Albino Claw Frog (5 inch)
-1 Pleco? the algae eating catfish. (10 inch)
-1 Black Ghost Fish (7-8 inch)

Discus move really slow compared to most fish and would eat a whole lot better with the above tankmates gone.

[glenwood]

Well I decided to go ahead and buy the two discus, and I talked to the store owner and she said if the silver dollars or the pleco bother the discus she would be happy to take them for one of her show tanks.

So far it's been about a week and I haven't noiced any fish being agressive towards them and I've been doing 20 gallon water changes daily. I checked to see if the fish were in any destress but as of now I can't see any signs and both look healthy.

Right now it seems as if the silver dollars almost want to almost schoal with them. There isn't really a fight for food either as the only thing that eats blood worms besides the discus and the Black Ghost Fish.

I upped the tempature to 82 degrees will that be warm enough for the guys?

[rickztahone]

pics?

[NanDiscus]

pics?

I would like to see that tank too!

Nandi

[glenwood]

*tank with all the fish in it, cant really see much*

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/2150/1258351025890.jpg (http://swiftkit.net)

Discus #1
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/8739/1257810507765.jpg (http://swiftkit.net)

Discus #2
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/6575/1258351024566.jpg (http://swiftkit.net)

Pleco
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/8908/1257387837262.jpg (http://swiftkit.net)

Claw Frog
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/2465/1257387881725.jpg (http://swiftkit.net)

Silver Dollars
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5462/1258351024315.jpg (http://swiftkit.net)

Few of the glass cats
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/2458/1258351024018.jpg (http://swiftkit.net)

Discus together
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/9753/1257810507542.jpg (http://swiftkit.net)

(working on pics of the rest of the hiders)

[glenwood]

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/9753/1257810507542.jpg (http://swiftkit.net)

[glenwood]

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/8739/1257810507765.jpg (http://swiftkit.net)