Tank Mates

Tank Mates

Some fish keepers will house their Discus in a species only set up without, or just a few area selected species of tank mates, however in a domestic living room people like to keep what catches their eye in the shop rather than a dedicate biotope aquarium.

It is very important when selecting companion species for you Discus that you do not compromise the Discus's water requirements at all, so select only species that will be happy with a water temperature of 28-30 C and will tolerate your local pH and hardness etc.

Fish that are not too boisterous, and fish that will not hog all the food are those to consider - a prudent aquarist will research their chosen species before buying them and the Internet is ideal for this, so coupled with the advice of your retailer, getting it "wrong" is minimised. Remember also that tank mates should undergo a period of quarantine and observation prior to mixing with your Discus - many folk will not do this and have no issues, but you must be aware that bacterial compatibility issues are a very real risk.

We Suggest .....

Fish that I have personally kept with Stendker Discus here at Devotedly Discus over the years include,

- Cardinal Tetra
- Lemon Tetra
- Black Neon Tetra
- Bleeding Heart Tetra
- Bentosi White Fin Tetra
- Sterbai Corydora
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Tiger Pleco
- Rams

Mr Adrie Baumann.

Adrie Baumann won the 2013 Live Aquascaping World Championship and works very closely with the Stendker hatchery in Germany. Adrie has compiled the following list of fish that he considers as suitable companions for Discus. Information in good faith without guarantee.

- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma cacatuoides)
- Zebra Pleco (Hypancistrus Zebra)
- Three Stripe Corydora (Corydoras Trilineetatus)
- Oto Catfish (Otocinclus Macrospilus)
- Sterbai Corydora (Corydora Sterbai)
- Blackline Penquinfish (Thayeria Boehlkei)
- Rosy Tetra (Hyhessobrycon Rosaceus)
- Gara Rufa
- Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus Siamensis)
- Black Neon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus)
- Lemon Tetra (Hyphessobrycon Pulchripinnis)
- Redstripe Apisto (Apistogrammus Hongsloi)
- Golden Tetra (Hemigrammus Rodwayi)
- Yellow Tail Tetra (Alestepetersius Caildalis)
- Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus Interruptus)
- Adolfoi Corydora (Corydoras Adolfoi)
- Agassiz' Buntbarsch (Apistogramma Agassizii)
- Rummynose Tetra (Hemigrammus Bleheri)
- Bleeding Heart Tetra (Hyphessobrycon Erythrostigma)
- Garra Cambodgiensis
- Whiptail (Sturisoma Aureum)

Avoid

Oscars, Common Pleco, Gibbicep Pleco, and most large fish, if in doubt, don't do it!