Cichlid Dithers
- Thread starter FastFisher5
- Start date
oh, ok....I'm closer to Philadelphia. Also, I guess I'll make an on-topic post about the actual THREAD LOLOL.
I'd go with Tiger barbs, but I wouldn't LIMIT it to just those....I have several dither species in my "planted" tank, including Mollies, fancy guppies, Zebra Danios, Platys, Corys, TBs, etc. A variety will make everyone happiest, especially YOU, just make sure you keep the recommended quantity of each species. Apparently 6 is the lucky number, but I heard Corys in groups of 3 or 5 and Molly and Platys best in large groups but PAIRED as well......I did something like 5 or 6 pairs of different Platys - Red wag, Blue wag, Twinbars, Sunburst, etc etc........better that way so they can produce good feeder fish for the cichlids, unless you favor keeping the babies too.
I realize by your initial choices, that being geographically correct is not important in your tank. But if you were to choose dithers that come from the area all 3 of your cichlids come from, they would either be live bearers like Gambusia, or Poecilia, or tetras like Astyanax.
Astyanax tend to be very nippy, so in a small tank like the ones you describe, they would be far too aggressive, but some of the larger swordtails or sailfin mollies would work well, and would probably stay near the surface away from the cichlids, providing movement in that area, and the constant dropping of their fry would provide plenty of extra snacks for the cichlids.
Astyanax tend to be very nippy, so in a small tank like the ones you describe, they would be far too aggressive, but some of the larger swordtails or sailfin mollies would work well, and would probably stay near the surface away from the cichlids, providing movement in that area, and the constant dropping of their fry would provide plenty of extra snacks for the cichlids.
UnstoppableJayD
- can u delete posts #12,#13 and #15, please....I was having connection issues and it re-posted too many of my post
done
thanx lol....was that double-quote an inside joke or just an accident? lol
I definetly like the idea of multiple dithers. Could TB and BAT get along you think? And I have a tank of Mollies and platys. Expecting them to give birth any day lol
I realize by your initial choices, that being geographically correct is not important in your tank. But if you were to choose dithers that come from the area all 3 of your cichlids come from, they would either be live bearers like Gambusia, or Poecilia, or tetras like Astyanax.
Astyanax tend to be very nippy, so in a small tank like the ones you describe, they would be far too aggressive, but some of the larger swordtails or sailfin mollies would work well, and would probably stay near the surface away from the cichlids, providing movement in that area, and the constant dropping of their fry would provide plenty of extra snacks for the cichlids.
I was originally going for geography but decided to go with my favorite stock. As for the dithers I'm trying to aim, if I can, for fish I don't have currently. I have giant danio, silver dollars, mollies, platys, and some serpae tetra. They're not all one tank ftr.
not sure about that, I'm not a Tetra guy....only ever had a few blacks and whites as a kid, but I don't see why not as long as there are enough dithers overall to keep the TBs from targeting the others. I was always told TBs are nippers, but I don't have any issues with them. They don't even bother the longfin leopard danios
Rosaline sharks are a very attractive dither if you don't mind putting out a little extra $$, probably hardier than a lot f the others but I also am a fan of Rainbows and Giant Danios
12 large barbs/tetras, that's gonna be quite a full tank. I may have to get the smaller TBs
