i would personally add seem due to the fact that cichlids, even large and aggressive ones, can become extremely skittish in ponds since they have been kept in aqauriums the entire life, in which they have full view to their surroundings and thus can become quite nervous in ponds, where they have limited view, as mentioned by
jjohnwm
in one of your previous threads. My small oscar thrived and lived like a absolute bully in my old 125 gallon pond, buy only due to the fact that there were dithers including SDs and other smaller fish. As soon as they were removed, he became a wuss, hiding in a cave all day. I am already regretting not buying dithers for my midas, who is still afraid to leave its cave at a size of 10 inches even after a month. Dithers have worked like a charm for me in the past, bringing out the true nature of a plethora of my fish. I would highly recommend buying them.