Discus care

Water temperature

82–88°F

Keep discus at 82–88°F with a pH of 5.5–7, in a tank of at least 55 gallons. Good tank mates include rams, angelfish, cardinal tetras.

Needs hot, clean, soft water. Few community fish like it that warm.

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

pH

5.5–7

Minimum tank

55 gal

Adult size

6.0 in

Temperament

Peaceful

Group

Groups of 5+

Lifespan

10–15 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Carnivore

Best tank mates

• German blue ramYes
• AngelfishYes
• Cardinal tetraYes
• Kuhli loachYes
• Zebra plecoYes
• Clown loachYes
• ApistogrammaYes
• Firemouth cichlidYes
• Rummy nose tetraYes
• SeverumYes

Full discus tank mate chart: 10 yes, 23 with care, 65 no

Discus water compared

Fish to keep away from discus

• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); discus need 82–88°F. No temperature suits both.
• Oscar No shared temperature. Oscars need 74–81°F, discus need 82–88°F.
• African cichlid Different water: discus want pH 5.5–7, african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); discus need 82–88°F. No temperature suits both.
• Pea puffer At 6 inches a discus can swallow a 1-inch pea puffer whole.
• Corydoras No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, corydoras need 72–79°F.
• Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 6 inches discus do.
• Common pleco Plecos sometimes latch on to slow, flat fish like discus and rasp their slime coat.

More cichlids

• Angelfish76–84°F
• Oscar74–81°F
• Convict cichlid74–82°F
• German blue ram80–86°F
• African cichlid75–82°F
• Blood parrot76–80°F
• Jack Dempsey72–86°F
• Bolivian ram72–79°F