discus not eating

Question
Hi there, i am Dan and i have a few questions. I recently bought a neon blue discus which is in a 40 gallon tank with a firemouth, pleco, tetras, tiger barbs, and a puffer. Everyone gets along great. There is no aggression and they seem perfectly healthy. However, my discus is not eating. I just got him 2 days ago and he is not eating. I tried feeding him bloodworms, flakes, and pellets, none which he seemed interested in. What could be wrong? He seems healthy and doesnt have any signs of illnesses except for not eating. The tank is fully cycled and i do 50 percent water changes weekly. Do discuses   NEED other discuses or will they be fine alone? I really only wanted one because i dont have much room and discus are really expensive! How many discuses can fit in a 40 gallon tank? So what do you think the problem may be? None of the fishes seem to be bullying him and nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia are all fine. Is he just getting settled in? If so, how long will it take for him to fully get used to the tank and start eating? Please help.I have a few more questions. Will my discus starve? Will he know he needs to eat? Or will he go on a hunger strike and not eat? Also, how do i make my water softer, and can you give me some species of cichlids that need hard water so i wont keep them together? Last, is there a way to test the ph without keep on buying test strips?

Thanks so much,
Daniel

Answer
Hello Dan,

Discus are by far the most finicky fish in the tropical community.  They need absolutely perfect water conditions.  Temps in the low 80's and usually, never housed with anything other than discus.  A firemouth and barbs will definitely not help the discus.  They stress quickly, and the first sign is that they quit eating.  I have seen discus housed with other fish, but usually ones of a peaceful nature.  Other discus, like 3 or more, as they like to school, and small tetras, like cardinals, since they can handle the temperature.  Angelfish can also be housed with discus, as they two can handle the higher temps.  Planted aquariums, with live plants often help them adjust to their new environment, as it mimics their natural habitat.  I hope this answers your questions concerning your discus.


Sincerely,

Adrian