Too many discus in too small a tank?

[tetranewbie]

I recently (2-3 weeks ago) got a batch of 6 discus from Kenny here on SD, and they are all in the 3-4.5 inch range. I currently have them in a 40gal breeder BB tank, and they seem to be rather aggressive towards one another. The 40 is just a holding/grow-out tank until my 90gal is up and running. Is this normal? Or just too many fish in a tank that's too small? Thanks for any assistance!

[wendy9722]

Too many for small tank IMO.

Wendy

[discuspaul]

If they were all 3" - then not a problem. If many, or most, are near 4.5" as you mentioned, then Wendy's right on - too many for too small a tank. Better get that 90 gal. ready real soon.

[tetranewbie]

I'm only planning on keeping them in the 40 for another week or possibly two... think that'll be okay?

[Keith Perkins]

If you're good about doing large water changes often, a week or two in the 40 should be a fine. At that size though they must be eating machines creating a lot of waste, so if your lazy about water changes and you don't move them they'll stunt before too long.

[discuspaul]

If you're good about doing large water changes often, a week or two in the 40 should be a fine.
+1

[tetranewbie]

I've been doing 50% 5x/week... is that considered enough?

[DiscusOnly]

I've been doing 50% 5x/week... is that considered enough?

Depends on what you feed. IMHO, 6 in a 40 breeder is fine.

[discuspaul]

I've been doing 50% 5x/week... is that considered enough?

That sounds pretty good. Keep it up.

[tetranewbie]

Well, at least that's one thing I'm doing correctly!

-Oh, and I'm feeding live blackworms and frozen bloodworms. They don't really seem to care for much else. :)

[uberdave]

i am in china now, let me tell you that the fish store i visited, that setup is very normal.

[vera]

I've been doing 50% 5x/week... is that considered enough?

i would up water changes to b on a safe side , had the same set up and was doing 2x a day 60% water change

[vera]

i am in china now, let me tell you that the fish store i visited, that setup is very normal.

they might have a drip system on their tanks

[keef]

tetra newbie, is it just b/w & f/b/w you are feeding? If you want good growth at this stage I'd throw some beefheart into the mix too & keep on top of those water changes.

[Eddie]

I'd also try get them on dry food. Something mineral/vitamin rich.


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[tetranewbie]

You know, I've been trying to get them to eat a beef heart mix and they really just don't seem to care for it. I'll keep trying though, hopefully with more luck :)

And any suggestions on how to get them to eat anything dry??? I've put flake in and I swear they don't even recognize it as food. Thanks!

[TURQ64]

Just feed them flakes, and wait...might take days, but they'll eat other stuff when they are hungry enough..........It's us, the fish owners, that freak when they don't eat every few hours, not the fish..

[roclement]

The agressiveness you see is normal behaviour for young discus, some will mature faster and start becoming more territorial, a larger tank will serve to disperse the agression but won't cure it. It's part of natural behaviour, you will see the same behaviour when you go to the 90gal.
IMO a 40 breeder and your water change regimen is fine for those fish.

As far as feeding, just hold on feeding for a couple of days and offer them some flakes or pellets, or whatever food you want to introduce them to, as soon as they are hungry, they will jump on it!

Rodrigo

[ExReefer]

Your fish will be fine. I'll bet most of our sponsors cram many more than 6 discus in their holding tanks until fish are sold. Between quarantine and waiting to be shipped, these fish could sit for month or more in tight conditions.

[tetranewbie]

Thanks for the advise you guys! I'm definately going to make sure they're getting everything they need (especially before they go to the big tank) :)

[Laborator]

depends on the lenght of that 40 gallons, if they have enough swim space then maybe depends on the behavior