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I've been thinking of keeping manacapuru red shoulder angel fish with my discus fish. I've got a 120 gallon aquarium and was thinking of a ratio of about 5 manacapurus to 9 discus. I've read that manacapurus can be a bit aggressive towards cardinal tetras, so I want to make sure I provide enough hiding spots for them. I was thinking of using some bushy plants in the background and planting jungle vallisneria pretty thickly - would that be enough for the tetras to hide safely?

Originally posted by SlyFox

Is it safe to keep manacapuru red shoulder angel fish with discus fish. Can one keep about 5 manacapuru angel to about 9 discus fish ratio in a 120 gallon aquarium. I have read that manacapuru eat cardinal tetras and to prevent this keep hiding spaces. What sort of hiding places is good for cardinal tetras to hide well
..is it bushy plants in the background and jungle vallisneria planted thickly.

Honestly, you can keep them together, but I wouldn't recommend it. In my experience, angels are more aggressive eaters than discus, which can cause growth and health issues for the discus over time. Angels are also more aggressive towards each other, and this can stress out the discus. Another concern is disease resistance - angels seem hardier and more able to fight off pathogens, but this also makes them good carriers of diseases.

Some people do keep them together and it works out fine, but I've found that it can cause a lot of stress for the discus. While angels and discus share some similarities, it doesn't mean they should be kept together. I've kept wild angels and altums with both domestic and wild discus, and it never works out in the long run. The problem is that people see a picture or a short video and think they go well together, but there's a big difference between what's okay in the short term and what's okay in the long term.

If you have the capability to maintain separate tanks, I would advise it. You'll be able to enjoy each group of beautiful fish more.

Re: Keeping manacapuru red shoulder angel fish with discus fish

I couldn't agree more, I've fallen victim to those YouTube videos showcasing angels cohabiting with discus, corydoras, geophagus, and rams - it looks like a harmonious community. But as you pointed out, the reality is far from it. Discus struggle to compete with angels for food, and even geophagus can be quite aggressive eaters. In my experience, it's best to keep each species separate to avoid unnecessary stress and competition.

Re: Keeping manacapuru red shoulder angel fish with discus fish

I've had success keeping Altum Angels and discus in the same tank. The trick is to create a lot of hiding places and visual barriers - I've got a Manzanita stump and some Spider wood that do the job nicely. I also use foam pre-filters on the filter intakes to prevent the discus from getting sucked in.

I've noticed that the discus are able to eat flake or frozen brine shrimp from the pre-filters, as well as from the plants and wood. They're also pretty skilled at hunting down pond snails. So, it's definitely possible to keep Angels and Discus together... but be aware that bullying can be a problem. Make sure you've got enough of each species to spread out any aggression, and keep a close eye on everyone's behavior and eating habits.

Re: Keeping manacapuru red shoulder angel fish with discus fish

Hi Dave, I'm not convinced your setup will work in the long run. I've seen it before, it looks great at first but trust me, it's a recipe for disaster. My personal advice, keep them separate, it's just not worth the stress on your discus. Al knows what he's talking about, I'd take his advice on this one.

Re: Keeping manacapuru red shoulder angel fish with discus fish

I've got some real-life experience to share on this topic. When manacapurus and discus are tankmates, here's what I've observed. I dropped in some frozen beefheart, and let's just say the discus didn't stand a chance.

Same story when I feed frozen mysis - the angels are just too aggressive.

I should note, I don't keep domestic angelfish with discus, like Pat suggested. But I have seen wild angels and discus coexisting peacefully in Asia. Not sure what the secret is, but it's definitely different.