Who Gives A Fish Forums

Thinking about adding some Loaches to my 75 gallon Discus tank. They're all around 4 inches, water's at 84°F, pH 6.8, and I do 30% changes twice a week. Anyone tried this combo? Worried about the Loaches messing with their chill vibe.

I've kept Discus with Clown Loaches for years in a 100 gallon. Key is space and hiding spots. Mine share a sand substrate, driftwood caves, and Java Fern. Temp at 86°F works for both. Just avoid tiny Loaches, they might get bullied.

archibald wrote: ↑Sat Aug 23, 2025 3:59 am I've kept Discus with Clown Loaches for years in a 100 gallon. Key is space and hiding spots. Mine share a sand substrate, driftwood caves, and Java Fern. Temp at 86°F works for both. Just avoid tiny Loaches, they might get bullied.

Yep, bigger Loaches cut it. My Yo-Yo Loaches are 5 inches and ignore the Discus. Tank's got a Fluval FX6, so waste isn't an issue. Feed sinking wafers at night to keep the peace.

My Kuhli Loaches hide all day. Discus don't even notice them. 55 gallon, planted, with a sponge filter. Water's soft, 6.5 pH. Not sure if that helps, but zero aggression here.

Loaches can be sketchy with timid Discus. Had to rehome my Zebras after they nipped fins. Now it's just a solo Dojo in there, and he's cool. Tank's 90 gallons, weekly 40% changes, and a ton of Hornwort for cover.

Thanks for the input, folks. Gonna start with one Clown Loach and see how it goes. Got plenty of driftwood and a backup tank if things get weird.

Yo, my cat ate my Loach. True story. Keep the lid tight.

Boldie wrote: ↑Sat Aug 23, 2025 10:00 am Yo, my cat ate my Loach. True story. Keep the lid tight.

That's rough, man. Glass tops are a must. Also, Discus jump if spooked. Lost one to a power outage once. Now I run battery backups.

For real, lids save lives. My setup's got a mesh top with clips. Back to Loaches, though, they're messy. Double up on filtration if you're adding a group. Canister plus a sponge works wonders.