I believe that a Discus aquarium should be entirely geared toward keeping Discus fish, as other species generally do not require the dedication and environment that Discus need. The setup, plants and other inhabitants should be carefully chosen for optimal conditions, giving the Discus fish first priority. Discus are calm, timid fish who like to be kept in small groups of five to eight fish, as like other schooling fish they need the security of a school around them. This also helps in reducing stress of acclimating to their new environment. Outside of other Discus, what tank mates you choose again entirely depends on the purpose.
If you want a nice display tank, Discus fish feel comfortable with small schooling fish such as characins. When Discus fish see the characins in the open, they are likely to come out sensing that they are safe to swim.
Related Coverage
Breeding Discus Fish – Do’s and Don’ts
When you are thinking about breeding discus fish, there are certain things that you need to know in order to make sure that the breeding process is a successful experience for you and the fish. Discus fish are great fish to breed and you can also earn a little extra money from selling the fry, but you need to know a lot about fish before you begin. Tips For Discus Fish Breeders
Looking for the right Discus fish breeders can be tricky sometimes because naturally, we want to make sure that we are only dealing with the right ones. If you are not confident to find the right breeder then maybe you might just consider becoming one. Discus Fish Care
Why is it important for you to learn Discus fish care? Well it’s because of the simple reason that you want to keep your fish healthy and happy. Discus fish are very popular among hobbyists but any owner will tell you that they’re not the easiest fish to care for. Keeping Discus Fish Happy and Healthy
Keeping Discus fish happy and healthy is really not hard to achieve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or a long-time hobbyist, you have to keep on discovering ways on how you can improve your fish’s over all condition.I would recommend a large school of characins like Neon Tetras, Cardinal Tetra and Rummy Nose Tetras. It emulates their natural environment and both flourish in the same water conditions. However, you can keep most peaceful slow moving South American fish and Dwarf Cichlids with Discus, so long as they don’t dominate or out compete for food and space. Many have had Dwarf Gouramis as well as Pearl Gouramis with Discus, though I would not recommend the larger more aggressive Blue and Golden Gouramis. Smaller peaceful catfish such as the Corydoras will get along well with Discus fish and do a great job as bottom feeders.
As much as I adore freshwater Angelfish, I also would not recommended keeping them with Discus as they can grow large and bully the Discus, outcompete the Discus for food and carry diseases that Discus are particularly prone to catching.
It can be done, but usually requires a much larger aquarium and a skilled aquarist. I’ve also known people that have kept Kribensis with Discus, but much like freshwater Angelfish I would not recommend that right away. One of my favorite fish is the Blue Ram (German Blue Ram, Ram Cichlid), a beautiful dwarf cichlid that will complement your Discus quite well.
For a breeding tank, only Discus should be kept and I would strongly recommend against adding anything else. While many love having Plecostomus and other algae eaters, they are notorious for latching onto Discus fish and sucking on their mucus covering, leaving the Discus vulnerable to stress and decease. That is not to say that the two have not been successfully kept together, but in my personal experience it has been nothing but issues. For a new Discus breeder it is best not to take unneeded risks, even more so with a fish as fragile as the Discus fish.
For more information visit this Discus fish guide.
When you finally complete the things you need for your freshwater aquarium and you have finished setting it up, one of the most important thing you will need to do is the fish tank maintenance. While it can be a tedious process, depending on the size of your tank and the number of fishes you have, it is essential that you do it so that your freshwater fishes will stay healthy.
It can be a tough choice picking a fish tank aquarium, there are many variables to consider. Some questions you should ask yourself is what sort of fish are you looking to keep and what if any plants and accessories would you like inside your tank.