Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi everyone,

I'm starting with a confession - I made a huge mistake with my previous discus. I had 5 lovely ones in my 50gallon, but the new one from a different shop was the culprit. I quarantined it for 4 weeks, and it seemed fine, but now I'm left with just one lonely discus.

I've learned from my mistake and set up a new 130gallon tank, which has been running for over a month. It's got some albino BN plecos, corys, and black neon tetras. Now I'm planning to add 12 young adult discus and create a stunning show tank. However, I feel terrible for my lonely discus.

I'm looking for advice on quarantining and mixing stock. Considering I'm in Canada, I don't want to hear about throwing a bunch of meds at the problem - we need prescriptions from a vet for that.

Here are my options:

1. Move my original discus to the display tank now, then quarantine the new discus in the original tank. Once they're happy and healthy, I'll move one new discus to the display tank, observe, and then move the rest.

2. Quarantine the new discus separately, get them eating and thriving. Then, I'll move all but one to the display tank and introduce one to the original tank with my lonely discus, and observe.

3. My least preferred option - rehome my original discus and quarantine the new ones properly. I hope my lonely discus will find a good home elsewhere.

The new discus are still 3-4 weeks away (Stendker from Discus Paradise Montreal). I appreciate any thoughts and advice you can offer.

Re: Quarantine advice - 1 lonely existing fish

I'd recommend getting the rest of your discus from a reputable source like Discus Paradise or a trusted breeder. Once you receive the new batch, introduce them directly to the 130-gallon tank. Allow them to settle for three weeks, ensuring they're thriving in their new environment. If they're doing well, select one of the new discus and move it to the quarantine tank with your lonely discus. Monitor their behavior and health for another three weeks. If neither fish shows any signs of illness or stress, it should be safe to introduce the rest of the discus to the display tank.

Re: Quarantine advice - 1 lonely existing fish

I'm not aware of many sponsors that ship to Canada. Having Rid-ich Plus and salt on hand might be a good idea, just in case. What's the size of the new discus you're expecting, and how big is the lone survivor in your 50gallon tank?

Re: Quantine advice - 1 lonely existing fish

Thanks Liz and lunar. Your advice makes sense - no need to add extra steps for the new discus. I'll put them straight in the show tank. My plecos just spawned, which is a great sign the tank is doing well. Got the eggs out and I'm looking forward to raising and selling the fry.

I believe Discus Paradise is a reputable seller for Hans, so I'm hoping for the best. I've ordered the new discus at 2.5" size, while my lonely discus is around 4" now. She's definitely stunted, having been through a lot in the past two years since I bought her as a juvenile. Hospital tanks and medication have taken their toll.

I've got Nox-ich and Fenbendizole on hand, which should help if needed. I know it's not the most convenient de-wormer, but our options are limited in Canada without a prescription.