12 Awesome Discus Tank Mates For Your Not-so-social Discus Fish – Compatibility List and Care Guide

#4 Clown loaches

Care level: Moderate
Max Size of fish: 1 foot
Temperature range: 72-86 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6.5-7.5

Clown loaches are funny fish in that they’ll be active during the day but then hide from bright lights. So make sure there are plenty of little hiding places in the tank and they will be an ideal Discus Tank Mate.

Many people refer to this fish as a “must-have” tankmate because clown loaches are peaceful fish that get along with just about any other fish, including Discus. Since these fish can grow to become big boys and girls, you want to make sure you get a tank that’s big enough.

Clown loaches also love to eat pesky little snails that can form at the bottom of your tank. No worries about cleaning those up when you have clown loaches swimming around.

#5 German Blue Rams

Care level: Moderate
Max Size of fish: 2-3 inches
Temperature range: 78-85 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6-7

As its name suggests, German Blue Rams are known for their beautiful, deep blue color. They are peaceful fish, so they share something in common with the Discus.

They also tend to thrive with other fish, although they do like to hide in the tank, so make sure you have some spots for them. They like moderate lighting, so if you have plants in the tank, it will help to bring the lighting to a level these fish-like.

Or, you can also try the Electric Blue Ram!

#6 Rummy Nose Tetras

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 2 inches
Temperature range: 72-77 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6.4-7

If you’re wondering where the rummy nose tetra got its name, just look at the red coloring across its nose and face. These fish are beautiful with their sliver-body and jet-blacked tail.

They thrive with other peaceful fish like the Discus. These fish don’t really bother any other fish and just want to swim around and do their thing.

#7 Glowlight Tetras

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 2 inches
Temperature range: 72-77 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 5-7.5

The glowlight tetras have a glowing strip along their body, which gives them a beautiful look. They are popular Discus tank mates because they’re low maintenance and get along with a variety of fish.

They’re also small, so there’s plenty of room for other fishy friends in the tank. But they do like to remain in schools of 6-7, so keep that in mind if you’re planning on adding them to your discus tank. They’ll eat pretty much any small foods, so they’re not really picky!

#8 Rosy Tetras

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 1.5 inches
Temperature range: 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 5.8-7.5

Rosy Tetras are active fish that make great Discus tank mates because they don’t require a high level of care. Like the Discus, they’re peaceful fish and can live in harmony with many other fish.

They’re also beautiful in color and often compliment the colors of their other tank mates. They eat a variety of food like fish flakes, brine shrimp, and tubifex.

#9 Apisto Agassizi

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 3 inches
Temperature range: 79-84 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6-6.5

These fish are among the most popular in aquariums. Many people are drawn to them because of their vibrant colors. You can find apisto agassizis in red, gold, and blue. They have a long body that often has a dark horizontal stripe.

A fun fact about the apisto agassizi is that it will change color depending on its mood. So you’ll be able to tell when it’s happy and when it’s sad. They are good companions for the Discus because they are low maintenance.

#10 Five Banded Barb (Pentazona Barb)

Care level: Moderate
Max Size of fish: 2 inches
Temperature range: 79-84 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 5-6

The Pentazona Barb is a great tank mate for the discus fish because, like the Discus, it is not an aggressive fish and will not fight for food. The Pentagonal Barb is also known as the five-banded barb because of the five dark bands that run across its body.

In order for these fish to thrive, the aquarium should have plenty of plant cover and enough circulating water to mimic its natural habitat. The Pentazona Barb fish usually travels in a group of six, which is important to remember when setting up the aquarium. They like to feed on flakes, micropellets, and small bits of frozen foods.

#11 Long Fin Red White Cloud

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 2 inches
Temperature range: 64-72 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 6-8.5

The longfin red white cloud is a long-finned variation of the white cloud minnow fish. Like other fish that are compatible Discus tank mates for the Discus, these little guys are just peaceful little fish that co-exist with fish of the same feather…so to speak.

They are more colorful and become more active when they are in schools of 8 or more. Guess that’s peer pressure for you!

The longfin white cloud should get plenty of flakes for its food with plenty of vegetables. See, it’s even important for fish to have their veggies.

#12 Peacock Gudgeon

Care level: Easy
Max Size of fish: 2.5 inches
Temperature range: 72-77 degrees Fahrenheit
pH range: 7.0-7.8

One look at the peacock gudgeon fish, and you’ll know right away how it got its name. Its beautiful array of colors looks like a peacock’s feathers, just on a much smaller scale.

If not, they wouldn’t make it onto the list of discus tank mates! The peacock gudgeon has neon red and blue stripes on its body as well as a distinctive eyespot, which is also where it clearly gets its name.

These fish are peaceful and don’t really strut their feathers or ruffle any feathers either, that’s why they’re a good match for the Discus. You won’t find them fighting for food or anything else for that matter. Just feed them and let them be.

Bad Discus Tank Mates

While the twelve fish above make excellent tank mates for the Discus, there is plenty of fish that don’t. Any type of large tropical fish that is aggressive does not mesh well with the Discus. As we’ve been telling you, the Discus comes in peace and wants to hang out with other fish that do the same.

Here are a few fish to avoid are:

• Oscars
• Piranhas
• Severums
• Flowerhorns

Another fish you should keep out of the tank is the angelfish. Don’t be fooled by its name. As these fish mature, they become aggressive, too aggressive for the Discus to handle. If you try to put an angelfish in with a discus, good luck finding your Discus because it is going to swim and hide any chance it gets.

Any fish that isn’t a warm-water loving fish should also be avoided. Hot and cold don’t mix, and the same goes for fish that prefer different water temperatures. African cichlids and neon tetras would fall into this category.

Further Reading: Cichlid Tank Mates

If you haven’t been able to tell, discus fish aren’t fighters, and they don’t particularly like to fight for their food or move very fast. Their speed is more like a Sunday morning rather than a Friday night rush hour. If you put in fish that are on the rush-hour speed, the Discus won’t be happy. Besides fast fish, keep fin nipping fish like tiger barbs danios and tinfoil barbs away as well.

Discus Fish Misconceptions

Just as there are misconceptions about people, there are also misconceptions about fish, including the Discus. Here is a look at a few that just aren’t true:

You need super filters. Wrong! You don’t need any fancy filters for your tank of discus fish. Of course, you need to keep the tank clean, but a fancy filter isn’t needed.

Discus need fancy food. Wrong! Just because they’re often referred to as the kings of the aquarium, it doesn’t mean they need to be fed like one. They’re not picky and will eat just about anything. But if you want your fish in tip-top shape, a protein-rich diet is best.

You need to change the water every day. Wrong! If this were true, no one would ever buy a discus fish because no one has time to change the water every day. With that said, it is a good idea to change the water at least once a week, if not twice. This will just keep the tank as clean as it can be and keep the Discus healthy. You just don’t want the waste to pile up on the bottom of the tank.

That’s the Discus, the whole Discus, and nothing but the Discus!

Remember, having fish and an aquarium is supposed to be a fun hobby. Keep it that way as you maintain your discus fish!

If you enjoyed my ideas for Discus Tank Mates for your Aquarium, please share this image on Pinterest so others can enjoy it as well and find the perfect Discus Tank Mate.

Learn More About Discus & Cichlids

• 8 Awesome African Cichlid Tank Mates
• How Many Cichlids In A 55 Gallon Tank
• Easy 10-gallon Cichlid Tank Ideas 
• Best Tank Mates for Convict Cichlids
• Best Cichlid Food: Formulas For Color Enhancement & Growth
• 12 Awesome Discus Tank Mates 
• Angelfish Care Guide
• 12 Awesome Freshwater Angelfish Tank Mates