How to Raise Discus in a Tank With Neon Tetras

Discus and neon tetras originate from the same region of the Amazon River in South America, and the two species swim together in the wild making them a natural choice for tank mates. Despite a huge size difference, discus and neon tetras can live peacefully in an appropriately sized tank due to their symbiotic relationship. Raise discus in a shoal of at least 4 fish with a group of 12 or more neon tetras in a well-planted tank.

  1. Setting Up the Aquarium

    • Choose a tank appropriate to the size and number of fish using an online fish stock calculator and install a suitably sized canister filter and thermostatic heater. Plant your tank with Amazon swords or similarly shaped artificial plants in a gravel substrate to provide hiding spots. Maintain a temperature of approximately 80 to 84 degrees F to suit both species of fish. Discus require acidic water to thrive and a pH level of between 5.4 and 7.4 is acceptable. Neon tetras do well with a pH of 5.0 to 7.0, so a pH reading of 6.5 to 7.0 is ideal.

    Compatibility

    • Discus are shy fish and require multiple hiding places in addition to areas where they can swim freely. Neon tetras are sometimes referred to as dither fish because they shoal in open water and swim back and forth. This behavior has a calming effect on large, timid fish such as discus. They see the smaller, weaker fish behaving boldly, assume the environment is safe for them, and move to the front of the tank. In return, when neon tetras swim with a shoal of discus, predators ignore them because of their proximity to the large cichlids.

    Selecting the Fish

    • Once discus are about an inch in diameter and eating well, you can transfer them from a breeding tank to a display tank and raise them with other fish such as neon tetras. Size is essential to raising discus successfully in a group, so if you buy young discus from a pet store, choose fish of a similar size. If one fish is significantly larger than the others, it will display dominant and aggressive behavior toward the other discus in the aquarium. Keep a shoal of at least 4 to 6 discus to prevent bullying or aggression within the group.

    Feeding

    • Feed young discus and neon tetras a varied diet of fresh, frozen and flake or pellet food. Bloodworm, black mosquito larvae and brine shrimp are rich in protein and the carotene in brine shrimp enhances the color of discus. Commercial discus food provides all the essential nutrients required for growth. General cichlid food is also suitable and it is available in different sizes to suit your fish as they grow. If you don't want to buy separate food for your neon tetras, crush 2 or 3 cichlid pellets between two spoons and sprinkle the dust into the aquarium so the food is small enough for their mouths.

    Community Fish to Avoid

    • You can raise discus with neon tetras in a community tank with other non-aggressive fish but there are some species that you should avoid. Discus are cichlid fish, but because of their peaceful nature you should never raise them with more aggressive cichlids. Tropical angel fish can carry and transmit diseases to discus so they are best avoided. Do not house discus with algae-eating fish with sucker mouths. Many of theses species love to eat the slime coating on a discus and attach themselves to the fish's body which causes the discus distress. If you intend to raise your discus and tetra shoals with other fish, use an online fish compatibility checker for guidance.