I was thinking of giving them to my Mom for mother's day.

I'm not really sure I understand the appeal of these guys. They went from very active at 2 inch to hiding in the plants all the time at 4 inch.

I'm doin' the same care, the same water changes and the same food. The only thing I can think of is the 1 year old is now mobile enough to cause problems, but he's never been that bad. In fact he hardly ever stops near that tank since they're hardly ever all that active.

I don't believe it's a health issue, they're all seem to be doing and eating fine. Also the behavior change has been going on like this for near 3 months now, if it were health related they should have been long since dead.

Is this just normal behavior for Discus? Perhaps it's me. Perhaps it's perfectly normal for them to be this mellow, and I just find it boring. It's just a lot of work for fish I hardly ever see out

How many do you have? I have 7 and they are active. I have noticed that they mellow out until they get bigger than 4 inches. I think that is when they go into breeding mode.

I have four left. I had six, then the four as a group started beating on the two of them. So those two went to my mom.

The four just slowly dawdle in the gigantic sword plant in the tank. Watching them and watching the two angels in one of the other tanks, I realized they're acting near identical, which is to say not very active to me.

I don't mind the Angels in the other tank so much since they're in with some Parrots. I think the combination makes the tank active enough that I'm okay with it. Also, the angels don't seem to care if I do weekly water changes for that matter either. They've been just fine about it.

Are you doing daily water changes on yours? I don't think I'd even mind if they could go twice a week. This OMG need for daily water changes for a fish that's not sick, and that doesn't do much of anything is just getting old.

I'm not trying to put down Discus or you guys that keep 'em or anything. I'm just starting to think that they're not exactly the fish for me and I should get them to someone who will take care of them properly.

Since I'm not getting the volume of rescue fish in anymore I've gotten to give more thought to and pay more attention to some of the rescue guys here beyond making sure they're healthy and fed. Maybe Ivan is right, maybe I'm coming around to the dark side. I don't just think it's a big surly cichlid thing though. I think it's personality. The discus and angels hang out in their own little groups. They eat, they do stuff, but they could care less about what else is going on. They could care less when I come near the tank. This flowerhorn I haven't had for a day yet, and already comes to the corner where I was feeding him every time I walk by the tank to see what's going on (and beg for food).

For the fish that I've been thinking how I wouldn't mind if they never left, they're all the ones like that and the discus just aren't.

I'd add some silverdollars or dithers to keep them active.

Is there anything else in with them? As Alex has pointed out, some dithers may help. I've seen discus in with Cardinal tetras and it makes a nice combination.

Dither fish will likely help with their shyness.

saint_felony wrote:

...Maybe Ivan is right, maybe I'm coming around to the dark side. I don't just think it's a big surly cichlid thing though. I think it's personality...

Now the transformation is complete...mwaaaahahahahahahahahaha. Your right Rick, it is about personality.

I've only kept one discus, years ago, in with some angels and a variety of tetras, and smaller catfish. He was given to me and I stuck him there because he seemed to fit in the tank. He lived there for 'bout a year and a half until I found another home for him. He went to a discus "guru" who was surprised it had lived that long under the conditions I had him in: once a week water changes, flake food, relatively cool temperature, inappropriate tankmates. That was when I found out that discus were supposed to be very difficult and were limited in tankmates.

After seeing Mike's discus tank I've been reevaluating some of my discus thoughts. He has a nice variety of fish in with his, many of them I've always thought were no-nos as discus companions. Before ya give up on 'em, maybe try some dithers.

WYite

Rick I have 2 AC110's and a sponge filter and I have gone from everyother day to twice a week and the discus seem to be doing alot better with the twice a week WC's.

If you get dithers stay away from large danios they make the Discus very skitish. I'll give you more info later today, My break is up and I got to get back to work

Well it can't hurt.

That's all on a 75g right Mike? I think here I can free up an XP3 to use for them.

My current care is basically what Pops does for his. Daily changes, freaky made food (which I think necessitates the water changes). I have nothing else in with them. Pops didn't even approve of the few apple snails I put in there for cleanup and that seemed to be consistent with what I had been reading online.

I can get some super fancy guppies from my one friend that breeds 'em. Would that work as a dither?

Nothing else fish in with them, that is.

saint_felony wrote:

Well it can't hurt.

That's all on a 75g right Mike? I think here I can free up an XP3 to use for them.

My current care is basically what Pops does for his. Daily changes, freaky made food (which I think necessitates the water changes). I have nothing else in with them. Pops didn't even approve of the few apple snails I put in there for cleanup and that seemed to be consistent with what I had been reading online.

I can get some super fancy guppies from my one friend that breeds 'em. Would that work as a dither?

I think the discus would eat the guppies. I'd suggest some tetras like neons, black skirts, cardinals, etc..or you can use some mollys

saint_felony wrote:

Well it can't hurt.

That's all on a 75g right Mike? I think here I can free up an XP3 to use for them.

My current care is basically what Pops does for his. Daily changes, freaky made food (which I think necessitates the water changes). I have nothing else in with them. Pops didn't even approve of the few apple snails I put in there for cleanup and that seemed to be consistent with what I had been reading online.

I can get some super fancy guppies from my one friend that breeds 'em. Would that work as a dither?

Yes its on the 75.
I at one time had my XP3 on the 55g where I first had them. I still found myself doing the every day cleaning. Tetras are fine so are guppies. I have tetras, angels, cories, whiptail and clown pleco as well as 2 zebra danios. I have had all of these fish together for a year minus the discus I got from pops.

My discus would not eat the "freeky made" food but my oscars on the other hand loved it! I had a few ramshells in there and I didnt have a problem. Oh yea I had ottos in there once but I move them to help clean another tank. IMO cut back on the food and switch to Hikira discus food. I have had great success with all of the hikira products I use.

You already know but QT any fish you decide to get.

I have a regular reliable source of pretty guppies, so that's going to be my first crack. We'll see how they do in there. Depending on the timing my freind has them coming out his eyes now and again.

I'm surprised your Discus didn't like Pop's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. The discus here and most of the other cichlids loved that stinky smelling stuff. Hikari brand is nice, but I find them to be way to expensive. I can get Omega, OSI and Ultracolor wholesale. I'll have to check and see if any of them make a discus flake.

Yea. I never had a problem with the apples in there either. I never knew what the fuss was. I never did put other fish in there though just because that was considered a big no.

Just with some guppies I don't think they'll be that messy with an xp3. I have them in a 55 right now with a Emp400 on it and a plant/sponge filter. it's been more than enough to keep it clean. That's what started me wondering about the daily water changes. I did modify the filter cartridges for the 400 though so that may have helped some.

We'll see how it works out.

saint_felony wrote:

I have a regular reliable source of pretty guppies, so that's going to be my first crack. We'll see how they do in there. Depending on the timing my freind has them coming out his eyes now and again.

I'm surprised your Discus didn't like Pop's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. The discus here and most of the other cichlids loved that stinky smelling stuff. Hikari brand is nice, but I find them to be way to expensive. I can get Omega, OSI and Ultracolor wholesale. I'll have to check and see if any of them make a discus flake.

Yea. I never had a problem with the apples in there either. I never knew what the fuss was. I never did put other fish in there though just because that was considered a big no.

Just with some guppies I don't think they'll be that messy with an xp3. I have them in a 55 right now with a Emp400 on it and a plant/sponge filter. it's been more than enough to keep it clean. That's what started me wondering about the daily water changes. I did modify the filter cartridges for the 400 though so that may have helped some.

We'll see how it works out.

I am hopeing the really best for you sf. You seem to be a really good fish keeper. I had kept discus 2 years ago when I was 13. They would hide like yous until I add dither fish like tetras and silverdollars. Then they were busy chasing and schooling lol... I then add a silver arowana, angels and sevs... lived together for a year.. discus died, then sevs and then finally the angels. I traded the silver for my jardini. Tank size was a 150 it was heavily planted.
I'll see if I can dig up some old photos..
Alex

Silver Dollar dude wrote:

saint_felony wrote:

I have a regular reliable source of pretty guppies, so that's going to be my first crack. We'll see how they do in there. Depending on the timing my freind has them coming out his eyes now and again.

I'm surprised your Discus didn't like Pop's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. The discus here and most of the other cichlids loved that stinky smelling stuff. Hikari brand is nice, but I find them to be way to expensive. I can get Omega, OSI and Ultracolor wholesale. I'll have to check and see if any of them make a discus flake.

Yea. I never had a problem with the apples in there either. I never knew what the fuss was. I never did put other fish in there though just because that was considered a big no.

Just with some guppies I don't think they'll be that messy with an xp3. I have them in a 55 right now with a Emp400 on it and a plant/sponge filter. it's been more than enough to keep it clean. That's what started me wondering about the daily water changes. I did modify the filter cartridges for the 400 though so that may have helped some.

We'll see how it works out.

I am hopeing the really best for you sf. You seem to be a really good fish keeper. I had kept discus 2 years ago when I was 13. They would hide like yous until I add dither fish like tetras and silverdollars. Then they were busy chasing and schooling lol... I then add a silver arowana, angels and sevs... lived together for a year.. discus died, then sevs and then finally the angels. I traded the silver for my jardini. Tank size was a 150 it was heavily planted.
I'll see if I can dig up some old photos..
Alex

No offense but with that stock it was headed for disaster...

Mostlycichlids wrote:

Silver Dollar dude wrote:

saint_felony wrote:

I have a regular reliable source of pretty guppies, so that's going to be my first crack. We'll see how they do in there. Depending on the timing my freind has them coming out his eyes now and again.

I'm surprised your Discus didn't like Pop's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. The discus here and most of the other cichlids loved that stinky smelling stuff. Hikari brand is nice, but I find them to be way to expensive. I can get Omega, OSI and Ultracolor wholesale. I'll have to check and see if any of them make a discus flake.

Yea. I never had a problem with the apples in there either. I never knew what the fuss was. I never did put other fish in there though just because that was considered a big no.

Just with some guppies I don't think they'll be that messy with an xp3. I have them in a 55 right now with a Emp400 on it and a plant/sponge filter. it's been more than enough to keep it clean. That's what started me wondering about the daily water changes. I did modify the filter cartridges for the 400 though so that may have helped some.

We'll see how it works out.

I am hopeing the really best for you sf. You seem to be a really good fish keeper. I had kept discus 2 years ago when I was 13. They would hide like yous until I add dither fish like tetras and silverdollars. Then they were busy chasing and schooling lol... I then add a silver arowana, angels and sevs... lived together for a year.. discus died, then sevs and then finally the angels. I traded the silver for my jardini. Tank size was a 150 it was heavily planted.
I'll see if I can dig up some old photos..
Alex

No offense but with that stock it was headed for disaster...

Why what you mean??

Silver Dollar dude wrote:

I had kept discus 2 years ago when I was 13. They would hide like yous until I add dither fish like tetras and silverdollars. Then they were busy chasing and schooling lol... I then add a silver arowana, angels and sevs... lived together for a year.. discus died, then sevs and then finally the angels.

Silver aro is a terrible tank mate for Discus first off. Second Angels are not good tank mated for Arowana either. Next Fast moving fish are not the best choice for slower moving fish.....Lastly this is likely why all your fish died the stock set you up for disaster. Discus should be kept pretty much in species only tanks IMO slower moving dithers are ok but that is about it....Heavily planted or bare bottom for discus. Also a lot of people say Angels and Severums do well together but I disagree with this too at least in my experience. When the fish get big (full size) there will be problems. In your case there were definately stress related problems and bad stocking decisions and that is why your fish died. Sorry to sabotage the thread but stuff like this aggervates me a little.

Yea. Yikes Biggie. That was a mess. My aro would eat these discus for a snack and come back for more. Nom nom nom.

Thanks for the help/support you guys. We'll see how upping the filtration and lowering the changes and adding some dithers will do. Maybe they'll be a bit more active.

Really, the big thing is the water changes if I can get them down to once or twice a week it's all good.

Lots of plants....

Angels are a perfectly good tank mate, for arowana, if by tank mate you mean snack.

I've never tried Angels and Sevs together. I've seen Angels get kinda nasty though. Maybe as juvies that could work out but I'm not so sure as adults. I've heard Angels and Uaru are a good mix, and I've had great luck so far with the Angels and the Parrots.

Plants are covered. That's the tank I've been keeping all the plants in that I don't want the Pacu or the goldies to eat.

I hate bare tanks. I keep sickies in bare tanks, so anything that it's in a bare tank in my mind means it's sick.

Nice double post....lol

You guys were making like three posts in the time it was taking me to make one.

saint_felony wrote:

You guys were making like three posts in the time it was taking me to make one.

Hahaha!

I think the Big no no with the other fish in with the discus had to do with the water temp. IMO the discus I have are not as fragile as everyone makes them out to be. Yes they are more sensitive to amonoia spikes than other fish but if you have the proper filtration to handle the bio load and test the water frequently to make sure your levels are in check you should be fine.