I'm a big fan of giant danios for dithers, and they fit your 2-3" spec perfectly
EDIT: sorry, just saw the "no danios."
EDIT: sorry, just saw the "no danios."
Yes!! Actually have red side dace in my native tank and I agree, much more personality than most dithers! In fact I was actually thinking of them when I asked about dither that have more personality, that weren't natives! Black nose/long nose dace have lots of personlity too, but they are territorial with each other so not really dithers!I use Redside Dace as dithers in one of my many native tanks and they're very personable, come up to the glass and beg not to mention they have huge mouths for dace, when I first collected them I thought they were salmon fingerlings because of the mouth, some even develop a small Kype! But then those are natives which I wouldn't mix with any of your setups, most other dithers I have aren't very friendly.
Dont get me started on Rhinichthys (black/long nose dace) . Those things are terrors for their size and relatively small mouth! They pretty much murdered some small yellow perch I used to have (well they were already having swim bladder problems but the dace Weren't helping) and wouldn't take crap for a cutteri cichlid I kept them with. Know that I think about it, they may be the perfect cichlid dithersYes!! Actually have red side dace in my native tank and I agree, much more personality than most dithers! In fact I was actually thinking of them when I asked about dither that have more personality, that weren't natives! Black nose/long nose dace have lots of personlity too, but they are territorial with each other so not really dithers!
well they are extremely active, pigs, a bit nippy, and a little territorial, but I have never had them kill anything, though if I ever have more than one in tank it seems the underdog one ends up jumping out... But despite that he makes it a pain the get food to my slower darters I love him! When I put my hand in the tank he swims into my cupped hand, nibbling and nipping it like crazy - he doesn't even care if I physically pick him out of the tank in my hand, he still keeps swimming into it as soon as he gets the chance. Overall on the small fish side you can't beat native for personality - never had a tropical fish the same size that even came close in personality to some of my favorite dace, darters, mudminnows, etc.Dont get me started on Rhinichthys (black/long nose dace) . Those things are terrors for their size and relatively small mouth! They pretty much murdered some small yellow perch I used to have (well they were already having swim bladder problems but the dace Weren't helping) and wouldn't take crap for a cutteri cichlid I kept them with. Know that I think about it, they may be the perfect cichlid dithers
Yeah, I really disliked mine until they began to get big. They would freak out and dart around the tank recklessly whenever the lights would come on in the morning, and their incessant twitching kind of got on my nerves, but after the first year or so, I fell in love with them.Yeah, and they looks so much better when they are big! I was watching some YouTube videos of some bigger groups of large ones, and they turn out quite good looking!
Oh personality wise I agree, they're extremely friendly and would nip at my arm hairs during water changes. Out of the 5 I had 3 jumped out and 2 fought each other to death. I may try some longnose again eventually but I'll have to see, I can only imagine how hyper they are when breeding .well they are extremely active, pigs, a bit nippy, and a little territorial, but I have never had them kill anything, though if I ever have more than one in tank it seems the underdog one ends up jumping out... But despite that he makes it a pain the get food to my slower darters I love him! When I put my hand in the tank he swims into my cupped hand, nibbling and nipping it like crazy - he doesn't even care if I physically pick him out of the tank in my hand, he still keeps swimming into it as soon as he gets the chance. Overall on the small fish side you can't beat native for personality - never had a tropical fish the same size that even came close in personality to some of my favorite dace, darters, mudminnows, etc.