I have 10 adult discus in a 150 gal. tank and four of them are pairs that lay eggs rather consistently. One of these days I'll get around to rasing some fish just for kicks....they're pretty amazing parents. My fish certianly have a pecking order but there is minimal aggression in my tank. While many would disagree, I find that feeding my fish quality blackworms (washing them and keeping them clean is a necessity) really makes a big difference in their overall health, appearance, and behavior--my Discus are constantly hunting and are very active. They're my aqua-dogs and are always eager when anyone approaches the tank. I find the social nature of these fish and their curious natures to be very rewarding. While many say that they're delicate fish and that they're hard to keep, I think that many initial problems stem from poor quality, young fish, that are sick and stunted to begin with. I also have a number of corries, cards, and clown loaches that share the same home, along with a bristlenose plec, which makes hardcore keepers grimace with pain. I don't have any problems. I do water changes twice a week and run two large canister filters (FX5 and Ehiem 2080). Good food, good water and the proper temp go along way with these fish. I think the main key in reducing headaches with these fish is taking the time to pick good fish that display good confirmation and behavior from the start. White feces can be generally cured by raising water temp to 88 to 90 degrees for a short time, but, with good fish you should not have to worry about it....keep epsom salts handy for constipation and digestive issues as changing food can stop these guys up rather easily. This inital cash outlay for qualtiy fish is more than other species, but in my opinion, nothing else really compares.
Best,
Justin Szkalak
