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I've got a 75-gallon tank with six Discus and was thinking about adding some guppies. The Discus are about 5 inches, and the tank's got sand substrate, driftwood, and a few Amazon swords. Water's at 84°F, pH 6.5, and I do 30% water changes twice a week. Would guppies cut it as tankmates, or is that a sketchy idea?

Guppies prefer cooler water, around 78°F, and your Discus need it warmer. You might stress the guppies out with those temps. Also, guppies are nippy, and Discus can be shy. I'd skip it unless you're okay with potential drama.

I've seen it work in bigger tanks with lots of hiding spots, but it's risky. My buddy tried it, and the guppies kept messing with the Discus during feeding time. Ended up moving them to another tank after a week.

Temperature's the big issue here. Guppies can adapt, but long-term, they won't thrive at 84°F. If you're set on it, maybe try a small group first and watch for stress. But honestly, there are better tankmates for Discus.

Thanks for the input, everyone. Sounds like it's not worth the hassle. I'll stick to my current setup.

Dock wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 11:51 pm Guppies prefer cooler water, around 78°F, and your Discus need it warmer. You might stress the guppies out with those temps. Also, guppies are nippy, and Discus can be shy. I'd skip it unless you're okay with potential drama.

Exactly this. Discus are sensitive to stress, and mismatched temps can lead to health issues. If you want color, maybe look at cardinal tetras instead. They handle the heat better.

I've got guppies with my Discus in a 125-gallon, but it's a weird vibe. The guppies breed like crazy, and the Discus ignore them, but it's not ideal. If you're gonna try it, keep an eye on aggression and be ready to separate.

Guppies are too active for Discus, in my opinion. Discus need calm tankmates. Maybe consider rummynose tetras or sterbai corys if you want something lively but compatible.

My guppies got eaten by my Discus. Not sure if they were sick or just unlucky, but I wouldn't risk it again. Stick to safer options like neon tetras.