Discus Tank Mates
Short answer: the best discus tank mates are Betta fish, Guppy, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Angelfish, Chili rasbora. Discus need 79–86 °F (26–30 °C), pH 5–7 and at least 75 gallons. Keep them in a group of 5 or more.
Discus care at a glance
| Adult size | 5.9 in (15 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 75 US gallons |
| Temperature | 79–86 °F (26–30 °C) |
| pH | 5–7 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 5+ |
| Care level | Hard |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (31)
- Betta fish
- Guppy
- Harlequin rasbora
- Molly
- Angelfish
- Chili rasbora
- Ember tetra
- Endler's livebearer
- Cardinal tetra
- German blue ram
- Glowlight tetra
- Pearl gourami
- Swordtail
- Three spot gourami
- Common pleco
- Clown loach
- Sparkling gourami
- Black neon tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Forktail blue-eye
- Lemon tetra
- Sterbai cory
- X-ray tetra
- Congo tetra
- Upside-down catfish
- Firemouth cichlid
- Boesemani rainbowfish
- Bolivian ram
- Bala shark
⚠️ Possible with caution (7)
- Dwarf gourami — Very narrow shared temperature range: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Dwarf gourami 22–27 °C (72–81 °F).
- Bronze cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bronze cory 21–27 °C (70–81 °F) vs Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F).
- Cherry barb — Very narrow shared temperature range: Cherry barb 20–27 °C (68–81 °F) vs Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F).
- Honey gourami — Very narrow shared temperature range: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Honey gourami 22–27 °C (72–81 °F).
- Serpae tetra — Serpae tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like discus; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
- Kribensis — Very narrow shared temperature range: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F).
- Buenos Aires tetra — Buenos Aires tetra may nip at calmer tankmates like discus; keep it in a group of 6+ to spread the nipping within its own school.
❌ Not recommended (33)
- Cherry shrimp — Discus will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Bristlenose pleco — No comfortable shared temperature: Bristlenose pleco 21–26 °C (70–79 °F) vs Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F).
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F).
- Neon tetra — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Neon tetra 21–25 °C (70–77 °F).
- Platy — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Platy 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Tiger barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Tiger barb 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Oscar — Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful discus.
- Nerite snail — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Nerite snail 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Pea puffer — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful discus.
- Amano shrimp — Discus will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
- Celestial pearl danio — No comfortable shared temperature: Celestial pearl danio 20–26 °C (68–79 °F) vs Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F).
- Mystery snail — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Mystery snail 21–26 °C (70–79 °F).
- Otocinclus — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Otocinclus 21–26 °C (70–79 °F).
- Panda cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Black skirt tetra — No comfortable shared temperature: Black skirt tetra 20–26 °C (68–79 °F) vs Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F).
- Kuhli loach — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Kuhli loach 21–26 °C (70–79 °F).
- Rummy nose tetra — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Rummy nose tetra 23–26 °C (73–79 °F).
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Zebra danio — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Zebra danio 18–25 °C (64–77 °F).
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for discus.
- Rainbow shark — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Rainbow shark 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Red tail shark — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Red tail shark 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Siamese algae eater — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Siamese algae eater 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Pygmy cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Pygmy cory 22–26 °C (72–79 °F).
- Glass catfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Glass catfish 20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Peppered cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful discus.
- Gold barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Odessa barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Rosy barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — No comfortable shared temperature: Chinese algae eater 22–26 °C (72–79 °F) vs Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F).
- Jack Dempsey — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful discus.
How many discus per tank?
75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with discus?
Good matches include Betta fish, Guppy, Harlequin rasbora, Molly, Angelfish, Chili rasbora. They share a temperature range with discus (79–86 °F (26–30 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with discus?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Bristlenose pleco, Fancy goldfish, Neon tetra, Platy, Tiger barb.
What size tank do discus need?
We recommend at least 75 US gallons for a group of 5 discus, more if you add tank mates.
Can discus live alone?
No. Discus are social and should be kept in groups of at least 5.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.