Central American dithers
- Thread starter scottv
- Start date
ktluvsfish;3012512; said:If you don't mind them not being from CA, Rainbowfish are great dithers. I use them in all of my cichlid tanks and they are large and high bodied enough so that they don't get eaten. They are fast as well. You would have to get larger ones, but they would add a lot of color to your tank
My 7" Grammodes sees them as food. Tried Rainbowfish and failed for me, Jags are even bigger but if OP's jag is somewhat placid maybe.
What cichlids do you have with Rainbowfish?
My vote goes to some big tin foil barbs: not central american but robust, active, and attractive. They can take a licking and keep on swimming as well!
Rainbowfish, giant danios, etc. are going to get eaten.
Rainbowfish, giant danios, etc. are going to get eaten.
Filament barbs are favorite. If you go with tinfoil barbs, get the redtail tinfoils if you don't want targets that are too big. They max out around 8" opposed to regulars that get about 14".
ProblEmZ;3013096; said:
I keep a full grown severum, salvini, and blue acara with rainbows. None of them are as large as a jag, obviously, but they've worked for me. I make sure to buy the larger rainbows though, not the juvies.
Alright thanks everyone. I guess i'm gonna go with something foreign. Noone knows my tank was supposed to be a mini Lake Managua biotope except for me anyways lol.
This jag's mouth is just too big so I guess I will have to give up on the little fish and go for something like silver dollars or barbs. One day when I get my 180+ I can get the little guys to swim around with enough space to escape preds. 90 gallons is just to small.
I got this jag from the previous owner who raised it up in a 55 gallon with 2 oscars and he said the oscars were starting to pick on it. Also said it doesn't eat live food which is a plus. I will go for the bigger ones you all suggested. Thanks!
This jag's mouth is just too big so I guess I will have to give up on the little fish and go for something like silver dollars or barbs. One day when I get my 180+ I can get the little guys to swim around with enough space to escape preds. 90 gallons is just to small.
I got this jag from the previous owner who raised it up in a 55 gallon with 2 oscars and he said the oscars were starting to pick on it. Also said it doesn't eat live food which is a plus.
I will go for the bigger ones you all suggested. Thanks!Haha, Tinfoils are awesome but I'm trying to get something that doesn't get over 5" because the Jag is only in a 90. I don't think I will be getting it a larger tank until it hits 13"+ if it ever does.
I have driftwood "caverns" for small fish to take shelter and live amongst while the jag roams out in the open...Thinking a school of danios, but I don't think danios are the type that do cave exploring. Might look into the Silver Dollars for an open water fish.
Or else does anyone know some good smaller cichlids that stick together? A group of Geophagus type?? Or maybe Neets? Might check out some marbled cons after work. I hear in Lake Managua, Jag's diets consist of convicts/neets? Is this true? Getting them could be a source of live feeders considering they breed like rabbits.
I have driftwood "caverns" for small fish to take shelter and live amongst while the jag roams out in the open...Thinking a school of danios, but I don't think danios are the type that do cave exploring. Might look into the Silver Dollars for an open water fish.
Or else does anyone know some good smaller cichlids that stick together? A group of Geophagus type?? Or maybe Neets? Might check out some marbled cons after work. I hear in Lake Managua, Jag's diets consist of convicts/neets? Is this true? Getting them could be a source of live feeders considering they breed like rabbits.
scottv;3014659; said:
Jags do eat young cons in the wild, and cons will breed like rabbits. This can be either good or bad, depending on the fish. Con pairs are very aggressive.
It does suck not having many choices in the CA "other fish". Most livebarers like platties and swordtails are great for smaller cichlids, but a jag would eat them for sure. I wish Mexican tetras were available in the hobby. I don't understand why, because they are plentiful, hardy, nice looking, and get to be a nice size.
