Denison Barbs/Rose line shark as dithers?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
S

Skurj

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 29, 2013
337
10
18
GTA Ontario Canada
I know these guys can be pricey but how do they work out as dither fish with med to large centrals?

Or are they abit small?
 
they should work fine from what a lot of people on here recommend. I went with pink tailed chalceus. they are calm but definitely fast enough for my festae and grow large enough to be safe with them.
 
be mindful though...they do nip eachother a lot. I have 3 in my 220 and 3 in my 150. the runt in my 150 looks tattered.
 
mrrobxc said:
be mindful though...they do nip eachother a lot. I have 3 in my 220 and 3 in my 150. the runt in my 150 looks tattered.
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This is a really good suggestion! If you have a big enough tank you can get the larger variant with the common name "tucan fish" and they're less aggressive. The difference is the yellow anal fin or pectoral fin, can't remember, and they get larger It's best to keep them in groups of 5 or more to spread aggression.


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thanks, love the look of these, just have to decide whether I want to stay closer to 'central' or not.... Think I would try a larger group 6 at least maybe they wouldn't be so nippy?
 
I have a group of 6 in with my med/large sa/ca's and they get along just fine.
 
Definitely will work as long as you get a group of 6+. Like most barbs, they can be very nippy, but my experience with barbs has been that the aggression gets spread out very well with a group of at least six and the more you have, the more they seem to be only interested in their own kind rather than picking on their other tankmates.


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If you want to stay central, Rapps has some Roeboides which are a larger characin from Guatemala that grow to 7 inches. They are shaped like mini payara's without the teeth.

I spoke to him about them and he said they move purposefully unlike many "tetra" types that just swin about erratically all day. They are more stationary and only move if they are after something. He said they are mid to top level and would make great dithers for many CA cichlids (I have Loisellei and he said they would be fine).

If you're after something smaller, he also has WC Astyanax Aeneus in stock from Costa Rica. This species maxes at 3" so is a bit small if you have larger predatory CA cichlids.

Lastly, I'm researching the Lake Peten Sailfin Molly that gets to 6 inches for the male and slightly larger for females. Goliad Farms has them for sale. He also has the Poecillia Salvatoris (Liberty Molly) that is a bit smaller but beautiful with a bright red dorsal fin.
 
Mythic Figment said:
Definitely will work as long as you get a group of 6+. Like most barbs, they can be very nippy, but my experience with barbs has been that the aggression gets spread out very well with a group of at least six and the more you have, the more they seem to be only interested in their own kind rather than picking on their other tankmates.


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Click to expand...


I had all 6 together in my 220 and even in that group, there was a lot of aggression. All were biting eachother and removing scales. The reason I spread them out was so that each fish can have more space. They kinda stick apart with enough "breathing room" between each of the. Literally one on the left corner, the other on the right, and the third in the middle. THe third is usually the one that get his/her @$$ kicked.

Final note: they are known to jump so make sure you have a cover and don't leave gaps in the back by the filter inlet/outlet since there are many accounts of them jumping out.
 
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