female salvini (solo) in 20g long

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I've keept the common SD's and spotted SD's (smaller) in all of the following: 40b, 55, 60, 110, 150, 240 gallons. In my experience they dart any way, front, back, side, and even into the ground or right into the lid of the tank. Even in my 240 they run into the front and back of the tank. That's just their nature. Length of the tank can be addressed but width will still be a problem in any standard size tank. 40b has the width advantage over a standard 55 and 60 gallon. A 100/110/125 will still have the same width as the 40b, which will be your biggest problem with them running into the glass. Going to the 2ft width helps but they still run into the glass. Ultimately the most important thing is getting a group to make them feel more comfortable.
 
I think you need a big tank to make them work because you need a fair few of them for them to act natural.A group of six is not enough.I used to keep a group of 16 in a 7x2x2.
They always looked relaxed and hardly ever freaked out and darted.
 
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I don't care to keep silver dollars anymore though. They're just way too jumpy for me. I'm happy with my tiger barbs.

This, tiger barbs are easily my favourite shoaling species; they're brave little gits too
 
I like my dithers to be biotope correct so never keep tiger barbs.I always use live bearers for my c/a cichlids and appropriate sized characins for s/a cichlids.I'm not keen on odd mixes of fish from different continents in the same tank.I try to keep fish together that may cross paths in the wild if I can.
 
I like my dithers to be biotope correct so never keep tiger barbs.I always use live bearers for my c/a cichlids and appropriate sized characins for s/a cichlids.I'm not keen on odd mixes of fish from different continents in the same tank.I try to keep fish together that may cross paths in the wild if I can.

Nothing quite like an accurate biotope, I want Bleher's new book on it; but it's pretty expensive
 
Back to the topic of this thread, which is Salvini, I would have tried tiger barbs if I didn't think they'd become lunch for my fish. I've never tried them but for my Salvini the dithers have to be bigger as I've lost many.
 
Back to the topic of this thread, which is Salvini, I would have tried tiger barbs if I didn't think they'd become lunch for my fish. I've never tried them but for my Salvini the dithers have to be bigger as I've lost many.

Good luck with dithers in a 20g, the salvini would decimate them.
 
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