Can I get a discus?!

[Krisstenn]

I have mostly kept tetras and livebearers (mollies, tetras, platies) in a 6 and 10 gallon tank for a few years now and have recently replaced my 10 gallon with a 29 gallon tank.

In the 29 gallon, I currently have 1 male dwarf molly, 2 female mollies, 1 male variatus (platy), 1 loach (or some kind of algae eater), and 1 african dwarf frog. pH is kept at 7

With the bigger tank, I was hoping to find slightly larger tank mates for my current fish. After doing some research, I have my heart set on a discus but after hours of internet research on compatibility I have yet to be satisfied.

Will a discus do well in my tank? I'm only looking to buy 1 as I think 4 or so would make my tank too crowded and I'm not interested in breeding.

For a larger fish, I was originally looking at an angel, but after seeing the discus, I just had to have one. Is there any way that I could have 1 of each (as in 1 discus and 1 angel)?

I've searched online but always get conflicting information. Please, any information would be much appreciated!

[MOsborne05]

A 29 gallon is way too small for even one discus, and discus like to be kept in groups so definitely no. Discus get way too big when they are full-grown. I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than a 55 gallon for a trio of discus.

Angels will get too big for a 29 gallon also. What about gouramis?

[Krisstenn]

Thanks! Yeah, I figured I wouldn't be able to do it. I'd really like a discus and angel but as long as I have fish that are larger than my mollies I think I'll be happy. Gouramis are something that I had thought about but haven't really considered b/c I was looking into a discus. Now I'll look into them.

Can anyone suggest any other fish that would be nice additions to my tank?

[DesignsOnYou]

Sometimes bettas (also known as Siamese fighting fish) can be kept in community tanks, but only if you have no more than 1 male. Sometimes females get along with each other, sometimes they don't. Same with the males, sometimes they get along with the other fish, sometimes they don't. So, if you're going to try it, you should have a plan B ready in case anyone nips fins or gets stressed out.

[Cichlid-Man]

Originally Posted by MOsborne05

A 29 gallon is way too small for even one discus, and discus like to be kept in groups so definitely no. Discus get way too big when they are full-grown. I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than a 55 gallon for a trio of discus.

Angels will get too big for a 29 gallon also. What about gouramis?

Errr?

1 adult per 10gal of water. 20gal minimum for a breeding pair.

However on that note, no i wouldn't recommend getting a discus. They do prefer company of other discus. Its just really not a good setup for a discus, discus like really high water temps, and this could cause problems with your other fish.

[Krisstenn]

Does that mean that angels are okay for my tank? I read that they shouldn't be kept in groups of 2 or 3. That it should be just 1 or 4 or more. I would only get 1.

So forget the discus and add an angel and a couple gouramis to my tank?

[roark fishies]

I would say maybe 1 angel and 1 gourami. Most gourami's don't get along with each other. They prefer to fly solo.
Also, an angel will get pretty big and may eventually outgrow the tank. So be prepared for that.

[Cichlid-Man]

Eh i think it depends on the genes. I have a lone angel in a 29gal tank now, been in there for years. Fully grown adult male and he doesn't even come close to outgrowing the tank.

[Krisstenn]

So even if I got all female gouramis, they still wouldn't get along?

And to the other person, I'm not interested in bettas. Thanks though!

[Surprise_Clown_Loach]

Mine is the begger of the tank!

I've got ALOT of fish in my tank. (this is how I received it) but was told by the PO (and the water test seem to agree, so far) fish are healthy and happy.