Earth Eater mix Discus

[simonho]

Can earth eaters can mix with discus in a 7' tank Thx

[Bas Pels]

I think the earth earters will not mind, but I worry about the discus

Now my knowledge of discus is fragmentary (to put it mildly ) but as far as I know, discus eat slowly, and likes to feed from the bottom.
Gophagus eat very hungrily, the like to eat from the bottom, but don't mind coming to the surface too much. So I think the discus would starve

Further, discus are supposed to be stressy, while at least some Geophagus are very active swimmers

However, thinking within Geophaginae, I think of Biotodoma - which are peacefull (many reports, at least in my language, Dutch state differently, but these are wrong), quiet and slow eating.

I never kept Guianacara, but would advise against Satanoperca: the unspotted ones are still too active, the spotted ones may be agresive (daemon especially)

Keep some 6 of them in your tank, and these might combine with discus. At least they will fit much better

[Dean Hougen]

I think it could work, depending on the earth eaters. You certainly don't want anything from the brasiliensis group. Too aggressive. Same with Acarichthys, I think.

However, in contrast to Bas Pels, I think you would be okay with lots of the Satanoperca and true Geophagus, if your tank is large enough, particularly tall enough. My discus always preferred to eat from the upper and middle ranges of the tank and were not shy about taking food. And, while my geophagines will rush to the surface to feed if there is no food on the bottom, my experience is that they are very clumsy surface feeders and will generally stay near the bottom if there is food there. So, my advice would be to feed quick sinking and floating/slowly sinking foods at the same time and I'll bet things will be fine on that front. I've done this with sifters and angels and it worked well.

The same probably holds for Guianacara, which I have kept with no problem with other mid/upper water cichlids like flag cichlids (festivum types).

Still, if you are concerned, I agree with Bas that Biotodoma would be a very safe option.


Dean