TankStockingDiscus Tank Mates
Discus are large, stunning, demanding cichlids — peaceful, but only for keepers who can meet their exacting needs.
They are gentle and best kept in a group, but they require very warm (28–30 °C), soft, spotless water and grow to 20 cm, which rules out many tankmates on temperature and bio-load grounds. The engine clears warm-water companions like cardinal tetras and other discus, and flags cooler-water fish. This is an advanced fish, not a beginner one.
Discus key facts
The sourced figures the engine uses to judge Discus pairings.
| Adult size | 20 cm |
|---|---|
| Minimum tank | 55 US gal |
| Minimum group | 5+ (shoal) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Temperature range | 28–30°C |
| pH range | 6–7.5 |
| Bioload | High |
| Swim level | Midwater |
| Beginner-friendly | No — advanced |
Sources & confidence (11 species)
These back the Discus figures and the recommended tank mates above. Each figure is read from the TankStocking species database (v2026.06); below is the care reference behind it and how confident we are in that data. Confidence reflects the source quality, not whether any pairing is safe. Full source list and the welfare model are on the methodology page.
- Discus Symphysodon aequifasciatus — Aquarium Co-Op (aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/discus-care-guide); FishLore high confidence
- Moonlight Gourami Trichopodus microlepis — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/trichopodus-microlepis) high confidence
- Clown Loach Chromobotia macracanthus — Seriously Fish (chromobotia-macracanthus) / Loaches Online high confidence
- Snakeskin Gourami Trichopodus pectoralis — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/trichopodus-pectoralis) high confidence
- Kuhli Loach Pangio kuhlii — Seriously Fish / FishBase (Pangio kuhlii) high confidence
- Cardinal Tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/paracheirodon-axelrodi) high confidence
- German Blue Ram Mikrogeophagus ramirezi — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/mikrogeophagus-ramirezi) high confidence
- Threadfin Rainbowfish Iriatherina werneri — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/iriatherina-werneri) high confidence
- Freshwater Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/pterophyllum-scalare) high confidence
- Green Severum Heros efasciatus — Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/heros-efasciatus) high confidence
- Yoyo Loach Botia almorhae — Loaches Online / Fish Laboratory (Botia almorhae) high confidence
Your tank
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Verdict
Top Discus tank mates
A ranked shortlist: the species the engine clears with Discus and that suit its size and temperament best — tap any to load the exact pairing in the planner.
| Species | Adult size | Temp range | Min group | Swim level | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moonlight Gourami | 15 cm | 25–30°C | 1 | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Clown Loach | 30 cm | 25–30°C | 5+ (shoal) | Bottom | Uses the bottom zone, peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Snakeskin Gourami | 25 cm | 22–30°C | 1 | Midwater | Peaceful temperament, similar adult size |
| Kuhli Loach | 9 cm | 24–30°C | 5+ (shoal) | Bottom | Uses the bottom zone, peaceful temperament |
| Cardinal Tetra | 3 cm | 23–29°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament |
| German Blue Ram | 5 cm | 27–30°C | 2+ (pair/group) | Bottom | Uses the bottom zone, peaceful temperament |
| Threadfin Rainbowfish | 4 cm | 22–30°C | 6+ (shoal) | Midwater | Peaceful temperament |
| Freshwater Angelfish | 15 cm | 24–30°C | 1 | Midwater | Similar adult size |
| Green Severum | 30 cm | 24–29°C | 1 | All levels | Similar adult size |
| Yoyo Loach | 15 cm | 24–30°C | 5+ (shoal) | Bottom | Uses the bottom zone, similar adult size |
Other engine-cleared options (not necessarily ideal)
These clear TankStocking's hard welfare checks with Discus, but are larger, bolder, or otherwise less ideal than the shortlist above — read up before committing.
Anabantoids (Bettas/Gouramis)
Plecos & Catfish
Possible with care
These can work, but the engine flags something to watch — read the reason before you commit.
- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (Apisto Cacatuoides) — Territorial
- Firemouth Cichlid — Territorial
Best avoided
A hard welfare check fires for each of these — don't mix them with Discus.
- Banded Gourami — Temperature clash
- Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) — Temperature clash, Territorial
- Chocolate Gourami — Species-only fish
- Croaking Gourami — Temperature clash
- Dwarf Gourami — Temperature clash
- Honey Gourami — Temperature clash
- Licorice Gourami — Temperature clash, Species-only fish
- Paradise Fish — Temperature clash, Aggression
- Peaceful Betta (Crescent Betta) — Temperature clash
- Pearl Gourami — Temperature clash
- Sparkling (Pygmy) Gourami — Temperature clash
- Three-spot (Blue/Opaline/Gold) Gourami — Temperature clash
- Bala Shark — Temperature clash
- Checker Barb — Temperature clash
Discus community ideas
Each build is scored by the same engine as the planner — tap one to load it.
Discus group
✓ Good starter plan5× Discus
A group of five discus in a warm, tall, planted tank — the heart of a discus display.
Load this build in the planner ↑Discus + cardinals
✓ Good starter plan5× Discus, 12× Cardinal Tetra
Cardinal tetras share the discus's warm, soft water — the classic discus dither fish.
Load this build in the planner ↑Common questions
What fish can live with discus?
Warm-water, peaceful fish that tolerate 28–30 °C: cardinal tetras, rummynose tetras, and other discus. Avoid cooler-water species and anything boisterous or nippy — discus are slow, gentle feeders.
Are discus hard to keep?
Yes — they need very warm, soft, immaculate water and frequent large water changes, plus a group for security. They are widely considered an advanced fish.
How many discus should I keep?
At least five. Discus are social and establish a pecking order; in small groups a dominant fish can bully the others, so a larger group spreads aggression.
More on Discus
Related guides on TankStocking — each scored by the same welfare engine as the planner.
Can Discus live with…?
Compatibility is a planning estimate: individual temperament, tank layout, and group sizes all matter. Cycle the tank, add fish gradually, and watch how they behave. See the methodology or browse the full freshwater fish list.