Setting up an aquarium takes some patience. Once you have gotten over the cycling process, you then need to think very carefully about the type of fish you are going to keep and whether they will cohabit without any problems. Angelfish and discus are among the most popular freshwater aquarium species, but can they live together successfully?
Angelfish and discus can live happily in the same tank but there are a few precautions that you should take to avoid aggression or problems down the line.
With this in mind, it is important to make sure that your tank setup is spot on before introducing either of these species. In the event that you do experience any issues with the two fish, you may need to separate them and house them in different tanks.
See Also:
Keeping Angelfish And Discus Together
Angelfish and discus are both slow-moving, placid fish that are incredibly beautiful to look at. It is very little wonder that these species are so sought after within the aquarist community. They are both widely available in pet stores and aquatic shops but there is something that makes both of these fish very special.
You see, discus and angelfish are intelligent, as far as fish go, and for this reason, require tank mates that will be interesting to them and provide stimulation. When placing these two species together, they will typically exist very well together. But much more than this, they will actually enjoy being around one another. The fish will happily interact and almost become friends.
In the wild, both angelfish and discus come from very similar environments. Geographically, they are very close with both species hailing from the Amazonian regions of South America. They inhabit waters that are pretty much identical and so sharing a tank seems to make sense. After all, both fish will have the same requirements and one won’t suffer for the needs of the other.
By their very nature, discus move slowly through the water and typically live in shoals. This allows them to have some kind of stimulation and gives them a little bit of excitement as they go about their daily lives. While they usually live in groups of the same species, in the wild, discus will do well with other slow-moving fish when kept in captivity. They certainly are not the kind of fish that should exist alone which is why many aquatic shops will only sell them in pairs.
But not only will discus get along well with angelfish as a tankmate, but they will also thrive. Both species have similar needs that go far past the quality of the water. They both have similar diets and exhibit almost the same behaviors.
Problems With Keeping Angelfish With Discus
It is evident that angelfish and discus will live very well together but this doesn’t mean that you should run out to the pet store and jump right into owning these two species of fish. Much like any pairing, there are risks involved in keeping discus with angelfish. While these are minimal, it is important to address these before bringing the two together
Tank Conditions
One of the biggest mistakes that new aquarists make is that they assume every type of angelfish is the same. In reality, there are two varieties of angelfish; those that live in saltwater and the freshwater angelfish. Of course, with discus being a freshwater species, they can only live with freshwater angelfish as the saltwater variety has vastly different needs.
Now, while the two species do have similar requirements when it comes to the water, there are some minor differences. For this reason, it is important to make sure that you get the balance just right before bringing the fish home.
For example, angelfish require the pH of the water to be anywhere between 6.5 and 6.9 whereas the discus prefers something between 6.0 and 6.5. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the common ground here is a pH of 6.5 which needs to be maintained.
What’s more, the water temperature for the two fish needs to be spot on. Discus prefers a temperature that sits between 82ºf and 90ºf while the angelfish needs the water temperature to be between 72ºf and 82ºf meaning that the ideal here is 82ºf.
Finally, the discus fish likes to live in water with a hardness rating between 0 and 3 whereas the angle fish prefers something between 0.6 and 1.2. This means that you will need to keep the DH of the water around 1 to satisfy the needs of both species.
Behavior And Temperament
As a general rule, angelfish and discus are pretty easy going but since both are species of cichlids, there is an underlying aggression that is bubbling away just under the surface. While it would take something significant to aggravate each of these fish, when it happens, it will happen quickly and likely without warning.
In the case of the angelfish, feeding and breeding can bring on very territorial behaviors and this can result in nipping and aggression. On the other hand, the discus will remain pretty docile provided that it is being well fed. If it is not, it is not unknown for them to eat smaller fish and may lash out at an angelfish although in most cases, it is easy to avoid this unwanted behavior.
If you are going to keep these species together, we would recommend separating them if they are taking care of their fry. This is the only time where serious aggression and fall-outs will be almost inevitable.
Establishing Territory
As we have learned, angelfish especially can become very territorial and this can be problematic when trying to get them to cohabit with other species, especially discus. But there are ways you can prevent this.
Having lots of plants and decorations in the tank can make territorial behaviors much worse for angelfish. Try to limit the number of items in the tank without compromising on the number of hideouts and safe spots for your fish. If you find that your angelfish are getting very aggressive, it may help to remove some of the decorations and create a distraction for the fish which should be enough to quell this behavior.
It is also a wise idea to only keep these two species together in a larger tank. They are both slightly larger fish anyway and so will need a decent amount of space to be happy. However, if you still experience problems after moving them into a larger aquarium then it may help to add a few other fish into the mix to distract from each other. Of course, when doing this, it is important to research whether your chosen fish will live happily with the discus and angelfish.
Getting The Fish Used To One Another
At the aquatic shop, your discus and angelfish will likely have been kept in different tanks and suddenly having to live together maybe a little bit of a shock. But that isn’t to say that the two species cannot get used to one another.
It is important to allow time and have a little patience but by doing certain things, you may be able to speed up their acclimatization. It is better to introduce the discus into a tank where angelfish are already living rather than the other way around. However, keep in mind that this can be stressful for the fish.
Begin by turning down the lights in the room as well as those in the aquarium and adding the bag with the discus to the water. Don’t let the fish out just yet but give them around 15 minutes as this will help the water to adjust to the right temperature. At this point, you can open the bag and let a small amount of the tank water in; keep doing this, leaving a few minutes between adding water.
Once the discus is used to the tank water, you can release it and allow it to explore. At this point, you must keep a close eye on the angelfish and watch for any worrying behaviors. If you notice that they show any aggression, you may need to place a partition in the water. This will keep the fish apart but will allow them to see and explore each other safely. It is important not to leave the partition in place for longer than four hours.
Conclusion
Angelfish and discus are both generally laid-back fish that come from very similar environments in the wild. For this reason alone they make good tank mates but owing to their similar natures, they will also provide one another with entertainment and stimulation.
However, introducing these two species does come with a risk of territorial aggression which tends to be worse in the angelfish. That said, keeping them together certainly isn’t impossible and with a few precautions and a gentle introduction, you will likely experience success.
