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My Discus have been hiding behind the plants ever since I added a few Angelfish to the tank. They used to swim around freely, but now they're always tucked away. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate around 10 ppm. Tank is 75 gallons, temp at 84°F, with sand substrate and driftwood. Anyone else dealt with this?

Angelfish can be territorial, especially if they're new. How many Discus and Angelfish do you have? Also, what's your feeding routine? Sometimes competition for food can stress them out. I'd try adding more hiding spots or even rearranging the decor to break up territories.

I've seen this before. Discus are sensitive to changes, and Angelfish can be bullies. What's your tank's pH and hardness? Soft, acidic water is ideal for Discus, but Angelfish can handle a wider range. If the water's not quite right, they might be stressing your Discus out.

Thanks for the advice. I have 5 Discus and 3 Angelfish. pH is around 6.8, hardness is 4 dGH. I feed them twice a day, a mix of flakes and frozen bloodworms. I'll try rearranging the decor and see if that helps.

hype wrote: ↑Fri Jul 25, 2025 4:54 pm Thanks for the advice. I have 5 Discus and 3 Angelfish. pH is around 6.8, hardness is 4 dGH. I feed them twice a day, a mix of flakes and frozen bloodworms. I'll try rearranging the decor and see if that helps.

That's a good start. Also, consider adding some floating plants like Frogbit. They provide shade and make Discus feel safer. I've had success with that in my 90-gallon tank.

Angelfish can be jerks, no lie. I'd keep an eye on them during feeding time. If they're hogging the food, try spreading it out more. Also, what's your lighting like? Bright lights can freak Discus out if they're not used to them.

Your water params sound solid, but Discus are picky about stability. How often are you doing water changes? Frequent small changes (10-15% daily) can help reduce stress. Also, what filter are you using? Strong flow might be bothering them.

Yeah, Angelfish can mess with the vibe. I'd try adding some dither fish like Tetras to distract the Angelfish. Worked for me when I had a similar issue. Also, how old are your Discus? Juveniles are more skittish.

knight wrote: ↑Fri Jul 25, 2025 7:54 pm Angelfish can be jerks, no lie. I'd keep an eye on them during feeding time. If they're hogging the food, try spreading it out more. Also, what's your lighting like? Bright lights can freak Discus out if they're not used to them.

Totally agree. I dimmed my lights and my Discus chilled out a lot. Maybe try a timer to simulate natural daylight cycles too.

Sounds like your tank's got a weird vibe. I'd cut the Angelfish if the Discus don't bounce back. They're the stars of the show, right? No point stressing them out.