Cichlid dithers

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Crazy mike

Crazy mike

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Sep 22, 2012
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Vacaville,California
Just wondering what species make the best dithers? What in your experience works the best? Did it alter the behavior cichlid for better or worse? Did it increase aggression between cichlids or decrease it? Just wanting to hear your experiences:) also I'm considering silver dollars as dithers for my 90 gallon and would like to hear input on this as well


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Some good sized silver dollars would be best. Every type of dithers i've ever tried with my cichlids got eaten or just killed. never worked. a breedig pair of convicts with lots of hiding spaces kind of work at "dithers".
 
Silver dollars work the best in my experience, though I have used others just as well. It really depends on the type of cichlid you're keeping. I think silver dollars can work with most species, but the more timid ones may even have a problem with the dollars because they are very aggressive feeders and will hog all the food if youre cichlids don't assert themselves and move quickly.
 
richkid said:
Silver dollars work the best in my experience, though I have used others just as well. It really depends on the type of cichlid you're keeping. I think silver dollars can work with most species, but the more timid ones may even have a problem with the dollars because they are very aggressive feeders and will hog all the food if youre cichlids don't assert themselves and move quickly.
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Interesting. What's the minimum tank size for silver dollars?im interested in some for my 90.I've also heard swordtails recommend as dither for firemouth specifically anyone have any experience with them and other species?


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I have a Stalsbergi that would hide all of the time, when ever I got close to the tank. I put 6 Giant Danios in and he is out all of the time. Can't catch them.
 
When all said and done, at the end of your day, dithers are chosen on the stock of your tank. I use black belts as dither/target fish for my bass tank. I rather lose a $15 fish then a $600 fish any day of the week. In my smaller tank, I use gold fish as dithers/target fish.




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I like silver dollars for larger cichlids and danios for medium to small cichids. One thing to think about though. Silver dollars get pretty big and can be super skittish. Mine are all about 3.5 to 4" now and even in an 8' tank they slam into the sides of the tank during maintenance and water changes. But they do seem to be the constant reset button. They are pigs so be careful with fish that are not good eaters.
 
I have 5 silver dollars, nice size, in my 125 with four nice size cichlids...no problems...they are not too skittish anymore. They just go to whatever side of the tank my hand isn't in lol.
 
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