Dither Experience

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P.A.NativesBPM

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 25, 2012
882
1
0
Pennsylvania
Hello,

I've been reading about some ways to make small rhoms more comfortable in a new tank. I read about using dithers and found out that it may be productive or counter-productive.

Productive because it encourages the notion of safety and may encourage them to hunt.

Counter-productive because a juveniles way of hunting is to hide and ambush prey.

What is your experience with dithers?


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He isn't small, but my rhom somehow catches and eats anything I've put in there in one night. Last attempt was 25 green neon tetras at about .5" figuring they were too small and fast... Not one left when the lights came on. Don't underestimate their hunting skill and never add anything "nice" or anything you wouldn't use as a feeder anyway. Learned that lesson with an 8" mango pleco
 
Giant danios, Buenos Aires tetras (fast), Black skirt tetras, Serpae tetras, Columbian red fin tetras, penguin tetras, black neon tetras and Chinese algae eaters. I'll generally grab whatever interests me in the .75 cent to $1 range and toss them in.

I have 2 1200gph koralias on timers and it's funny to watch them blow around in the current. They scatter like a firecracker whenever Stynkai's on the prowl. I can hear him smashing into the gravel or thumping into the tank and giggle but he doesn't get many of them.
 
If you want them to feel more comfortable get some thick plants they can hide in or behind. Keep the light off, use a low wattage bulb, or use something to darken the water like blackwater extract.
 
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