Angelfish vs Discus

The same axes for both animals, taken from the same care guides, so this is a like-for-like comparison rather than two articles written months apart. Neither animal is the right answer on its own. The question is which one fits the space, the budget and the routine you actually have.

Freshwater Fish

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Difficulty

Intermediate

Lifespan

8-12 years

Adult size

6 in long, up to 8 in tall

Minimum space

63 gal

Company

Must be kept in at least 5

Daily time

Moderate

Running cost

Medium

Habitat

Aquarium 64 gal+, at least 4 ft long and 20 in tall

Diet

Omnivore (flakes, pellets, frozen and live foods)

Suits you if

Aquarists wanting a centrepiece cichlid. Keepers interested in breeding behaviour. Those with a tall, roomy tank

Watch out for

Tanks too short for their body height. Housing with fin-nippers or bite-sized fish. Underestimating cichlid territoriality when breeding

Full Angelfish guide

Freshwater Fish

Discus

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Difficulty

Advanced

Lifespan

10-15 years

Adult size

6-8 in diameter

Minimum space

75 gal

Company

Must be kept in at least 6

Daily time

High (warm water, frequent large changes)

Running cost

High

Habitat

Aquarium 75 gal+ for a group of six, at least 4 ft long, tall and deep

Diet

Omnivore (frozen foods, discus pellets, beefheart-based mixes, some plant matter)

Suits you if

Experienced aquarists seeking a challenge. Keepers able to do frequent large water changes. Those wanting a striking centrepiece group

Watch out for

Keeping too few, causing chronic stress. Unstable or cool water below 82°F. Skipping quarantine and importing disease

Full Discus guide

How to read this

Every row is filled from the same field of the same care guide for both animals, so nothing here is cherry-picked to favour one of them.

Minimum space is the figure from each species' housing guidance, converted to one unit: the smallest space that gives the animal good conditions, not a legal minimum. It is a floor, not a target.

What this does not tell you: your experience, your household, your climate, or which animal you will actually enjoy. Difficulty is our judgement, not a measurement. Read both full guides before deciding, and if the honest answer is neither, that is a good outcome too.