Are you thinking about trying discus...

[Lupin]

I'm ready to jump into the discus game, but I have a question. Will discus jump out of a tank? I'm setting up 135g and wanted to leave the tops off so I can put terrestrial plants around the back with roots extending into the water.

Discus can jump when frightened easily. Make sure there is not plenty of open space nor glaring lights. They are by nature rather timid and will feel more secured if they have enough hiding places as well as subdued lighting conditions.

You may leave the tank open-topped if you are confident your setup makes your discus feel comfortable enough to get accustomed to.

 

[tedcb5600]

Discus can jump when frightened easily. Make sure there is not plenty of open space nor glaring lights. They are by nature rather timid and will feel more secured if they have enough hiding places as well as subdued lighting conditions.

You may leave the tank open-topped if you are confident your setup makes your discus feel comfortable enough to get accustomed to.

Thanks, I've read everything I can get my hands or computer on, but none have said anything about them possibly jumping. I'm just setting the tank up, so will not be getting my discus for a month or two. Like to get everything under control first.

 

[hillbilly]

They can jump, and certainly some have jumped out, but I don't think it's a big problem overall. In my experience, most will run frantically rather than jump out when panicked. I have kept large, open topped planted tanks with discus without problems in the past. A covered tank is certainly wise insurance against losing expensive fish, but lowering the water level a couple inches below the rim of the tank can help a great deal in open top tanks.

 

[Deenice40]

Wow, I am new to MFK and I have always found Discus facinating and beautiful. Honestly, Discus intimidates me. I would love to give them a home but I just don't have the base know-how....yet. Your post was very informational and timely. I would NEVER try to start them out without some confidence on my part. There is too much at risk; time, money, not the mention the heartache that comes when your fish meet an unhappy end.
I am a baby fishkeeper...I own a 35g and a 58gal with angels at present with HUGE plans! I have just come back to fishkeeping from a long "dry" spell.
I love your site and thank Wes, my friend from down south of me, for heading me in your direction. He is who I bought my angels from...gorgeous creatures!
Please keep posting info about the Discus, I want to learn more so that, some day when I get up the nerve, I can keep them with confidence.
Thanks to all!!!!!

 

[alexx-w]

i thought of doing a discus tank, they are very pretty, I started an oscar arowana tank insted for now, do im new at this but im doin pretty good, atleast it seems like it. but i have some questions. how do you know when your tank is fully cycled? (i just put the tank together and then leave everything on for like 4 days, then i test the water and if the levels are safe i introduce the fish) is that okay????
my fish are very healthy and eating great, i have 3 tanks now, a 10 gallon with basic small tropical fish, a 20 gallon with little piranha, and a 55 with 2 oscars, a silver arowana, a green severum, and a jack dempsey cichlid all about 3 inches so i have about a year before i have to upgrade to a bigger tank.

any tips would be great!

 

[jadewolfe]

i want to start to try to raise discus but i dont know any where i could find them cheap im on a tight budget witch i have pretty much every thing i need

 

[clay winton]

i have herd that automatic water changers work well with them what is ur take on this

 

[morillonj]

Got a 65 gallon tall tank. Had discus for like 3 weeks then the hurricane hit in houston and killed my whole tank due to not having electricity for 3 weeks. anyways im starting it again. any advice. Idk if my filtration is enough. Got a cascade 1000 which im going to hook up a maxi-jet 1200 to the output. Also got a aquaclear 300. enough or more??? any advice would be helpful. thanks!

 

[MKD]

I want this thread alive and want see how many ppl raising discus. Also I want some helps with my 100g tank running around 2 weeks. 1st week had parrott in it that my friend gave to me. About the 8th days I put a dozen discus in and found out this site info that my tank is not fully cycle. Now I want to go thru the cycle and save my discus. Currently I have 2 filters 1 new reaction filter and 1 aged stablished jebo 838 from friend. Water tested ammonia between 2.5-5.0, Nitrite 5.0 and nitrate 5.0. Can anyone have any idea how to save my discus? I appreciate it.

Ps: I am using seachem stability and sync stress.

Thank you in advance,

MKD

 

[jdvue]

Now I want to go thru the cycle and save my discus. Currently I have 2 filters 1 new reaction filter and 1 aged stablished jebo 838 from friend. Water tested ammonia between 2.5-5.0, Nitrite 5.0 and nitrate 5.0. Can anyone have any idea how to save my discus? I appreciate it.

First thing. you are over stocked. 100 gal = 10 discus. you have 12 and 1 other fish. Are you doing 50% water changes a day? is fo, you may get away with it... If they are adult, I'd go for three or four times a week at over stocked levels min.

As for cycling your tank. there are a few products out there like microb-lift and other bacterial supplements. I've seen a few that claim to fully cycle a tank with one bottle. So try lookin at your LFS for some of those as it may be your only hope. Your ammonia is dangerously high...