Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hello. I'm new here, so please go easy on me. I just got my first two discus on Monday. I wanted three, but I know that's not ideal. I'd love to know why three is worse than two when it comes to juveniles - I understand it for breeders, but not for keeping them as pets.

I got two discus, but one had been bullied in its tank. The girl at the store told me a bunch of things that turned out to be false. She said they'd love each other, and that one was male and the other was female. I'm not sure how she knew, considering they were only 3" in size. I didn't get more because I have to be frugal with my money, time, and space.

The discus who was used to being bullied started getting "mouth-kissed" by the other in quarantine. Sadly, the bullied one didn't make it. I'm now left with just one discus, butteredBiscuit.

I know what you're thinking:

1. "This girl is clueless! She should go back to school!" Well, I have a Master's degree in analytical chemistry, and I test water and soil for a living. I've even run my aquarium water on ion chromatographs, gas chromatographs, and discrete analyzers.

2. "She knows nothing about fish!" Maybe. But I've had fish for 38 years and kept multiple tanks for 28 years. I've also helped people with their animals and aquariums for 24 years through a website. I currently have a bunch of tanks and animals, including a 20-gallon tank with panda cories, a 50-gallon tank with rosy barbs, and a newly-redone 65-gallon tank.

3. "She knows nothing about discus!" Okay, maybe not everything. But I've been studying them for a decade, and I've read a whole book on the subject. I even set up my 65-gallon tank specifically for them after my 26-year-old pleco passed away.

4. "She's not following the rules! She should have a bare tank with just discus, and change half the water every day!" Not quite. My 65-gallon tank has gravel, driftwood, plants, and a few other fish. I also have a UV sterilizer, but it's not working right now.

5. "She's got other fish in the tank!" Yeah, I do. I researched which fish would do well with discus, and I've got a few other species in the tank. I've got congo tetras, cardinal tetras, German rams, Sterbae cories, and clown plecos.

6. "She knows nothing about water chemistry!" Actually, I do. I set up a quarantine tank with biowheel material from a Penguin filter, but it didn't work out. I had to move butteredBiscuit to the 65-gallon tank after a 50% water change.

Now, I know some of you might be thinking I'm a terrible person who deserves to be punished. But I'm just trying to do my best. I've got butteredBiscuit in the 65-gallon tank, and everyone seems to be doing well. The pH is near neutral, and the water parameters are good.

So, I'll ask for your advice. Please don't suggest I return butteredBiscuit or get a larger tank - those aren't options for me right now. Instead, you can suggest:

1. "Leave butteredBiscuit alone, and he'll be fine. But you might want to do a few things to make him happier."

2. "Get more discus, quarantine them, and then add them to the tank with butteredBiscuit."

3. "I hate you! You're a terrible person!"

Let me know what you think. I've given plenty of advice over the years, but I've never gotten any good advice in return. So, I'll only ask once.

Re: Single Discus Advice

Hey Fishy, no offense taken here. I wasn't thinking all those things you mentioned. I'm not on Facebook, and I don't think like that. My question to you is, what's your plan for butteredBiscuit? Some discus can thrive alone, but I'm curious, what's your vision for your discus future? They're amazing fish with so much to offer.

Re: Single Discus Advice

I've always wanted discus, they're stunning and the pinnacle of freshwater fish keeping. I know, it sounds selfish, but I just had to have them before I kick the bucket. Now I've got just one, butteredBiscuit. Having more would be lovely, I mean, who doesn't want a collection of each kind? But if having just one is better for him, I'm okay with that. It's like my chickens - I got them for their looks, but it's their personalities that I've grown to love or, well, not so much love. The dynamics between them are fascinating, and it reminds me of the discus world - all sweet and nice one minute, then they turn on each other.

Re: Single Discus Advice

I must admit, my initial reaction was a mix of emotions - frustration and sympathy. However, after carefully considering your situation, I think it's best to leave butteredBiscuit as the solo occupant of your 65-gallon tank. Providing him with proper care, including regular water changes, a balanced diet, and a healthy environment, should be your top priority. Introducing new discus to the tank poses a significant risk of cross contamination, and without a "hero fish" to test the waters, so to speak, it's a gamble I wouldn't recommend. Al Sabetta's quarantine process is a great example of how to minimize risks, but with a single fish, it's just not feasible. By keeping butteredBiscuit alone, you'll avoid the potential pitfalls associated with introducing new tank-mates.

Thanks Johnny, I'm going to assume the 66 people who viewed my post and didn't reply were also going for #3 - their loss, I've grown accustomed to being alone. Animals are my life, and I've learned to accept that. We all have our plans, but our animals often have other ideas. I recall letting my hen sit on eggs two years ago, envisioning a peaceful flock of hens. Fast forward, I've got 5 hens and 5 roosters in three pens. The experts said it was impossible, but my roosters are thriving, and I can even pet three of them.

Similarly, my discus experience didn't turn out as planned. I imagined 3 or 4 harmonious discus swimming with the other fish. But, as I've discovered, discus are not as timid as I thought. ButteredBiscuit, for instance, is quite bold. Today, I observed him feeding off food on the floor, which is great since the congo tetras devour food from the water column in a flash.

My original post was an attempt to preempt the usual responses - the ones that make me feel like a stupid loser. You know, the "you're uneducated," "you need to learn about water chemistry," and "you should read up on discus" lectures. I've heard it all before. My life, in many ways, has been a failure. I'm alone in a 19-room house on 5 acres, surrounded by hundreds of animals, just waiting for my time to pass. Anyway, off to do some chores on my last day off this spring.