Cichlid Dithers

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Which dither?

  • Large Tiger Barbs

    Votes: 2 18.2%
  • Buenos Aires Tetra

    Votes: 2 18.2%
  • Rainbowfish

    Votes: 3 27.3%
  • Other (please name)

    Votes: 4 36.4%

  • Total voters
    11
I just got done losing 38 tiger barbs in 2 days to a very nasty RTM. She didn't even eat her kills just killed them to kill them. I rehomed her, and the two remaining tiger barbs I have are doing just fine. The next time around I'm only gonna add a few at a time and see which dithers my fish tolerate. Seems different fish tolerate different dithers.

Not to court controversy, but you really couldn't have moved the tigers out; before 38 got killed?
 
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Not to court controversy, but you really couldn't have moved the tigers out; before 38 got killed?



Again, happened in two days. The majority happened overnight. Could I have taken the remainder out the next day when I got home from work? Honestly yes, I could have probably saved about 15 of them or so. But I didn't remove them in hopes that she wouldn't kill the rest. But the next night the others where dead. And she was beating on the rest of my cichlids. So I rehomed her for some one that could have her in a tank of her own. I made a judgement call, and it was the wrong one. So, lesson learned. Hence why I said he should try a few at a time. To find which his fish will tolerate. As will I in the future
 
I have a single GT in a 55 that has been very shy since I got him a few days ago. He is about 6 inches at the moment and I know he's still a little stressed but if I do add dithers down the road is there a good recommendation for this setup? I know 55g doesn't give th dithers much room to run but I'm thinking buenos Aires tetras or giant danios might outrun the GT?
 
My 5" JD took out all 15 tiger barbs overnight. I also had a dozen with my sevs, I'm now down to 5 and its not because of cichlid aggression. They are absolute terrors to each other.

I've found myself really liking neon Rosy barbs. They get a good bit bigger, are very active and don't harass each other to nearly the extent tigers do. Did I mention they're gorgeous?
 
Thanks she is in a 150g w/ a large syn, robertsoni, rostratus, nic, HRP, firemouth, 2 t. Macs, t. Passiones, and 5 two spot astyanax. She is pretty mellow, but I have never really found salvinis to be as aggressive as people make them out to be. This is my 5th one too. Maybe it's tank size or lack of breeding? Not sure, but mine gets bullied by almost every other fish.

One step closer to buying a Salvini lol
 
Tiger barbs nip fins.

If money is no object and the tank is huge, dennison/roseline barbs FTW but you will not get proper schooling behaviour in a cramped 60G. These guys need at least a 6 foot to show proper schooling and open swimming. Even then I feel bad as they are such fast and strong swimmers, that the school literally turns around almost every second from one end of the tank to the other.

Why not a school of congo tetras? Ticks all the boxes:
- grow to 3" and faster than most cichlids, so can escape most of the time
- cheap and easily available (so not a disaster if they get eaten)
- relatively peaceful and don't nip fins
- attractive
- compatible with your water

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I had a mind mannered green texas kill about 25 tiger barbs over night once. Never lost a giant danio. Tin foil barbs are great if your tank U.S. large.
 
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One step closer to buying a Salvini lol

I've had cichlids that were "supposed" to be more peaceful than any salvini, but turned out to be more aggressive. I have also never found salvinis to be shy either. To reduce your chances of aggression get a female.
 
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