I posted a thread about Buenos Ares Tetras in the main area and got some nice replies... Now, I've never had "dither fish" before. Can someone explain this more for me? Do you put schools of dither fish with monster cichlids? Won't they just get eaten? What is the whole concept of dither fish? Are these type of fish just really tough so they can go in with cichlids? What's the biggest cichlid that they could be housed with without worrying about them simply being eaten?
Dither Fish
- Thread starter Demonfish
- Start date
"Dither" fish are an active schooling fish that constantly swim about in a tank. Cichlids are pretty smart for fish, so they tend to hide out unless they see other fish swimming the "all clear". The larger the cichlids get the less necessary dithers become to draw them out.
Some common dithers include giant danios, Aussy ranibows, silver dollars, and tinfoil barbs; in increasing size. I look for cheap and hardy in my dithers, and use both giant danios and silver dollars currently.
Some common dithers include giant danios, Aussy ranibows, silver dollars, and tinfoil barbs; in increasing size. I look for cheap and hardy in my dithers, and use both giant danios and silver dollars currently.
I use Metynnis and Myleus as dithers as they are big and look good. And can take a lot of damage.
Dither fish are mainly for shy or skittish fish. Having groups of smaller fish around seems to make them feel more secure. The dithers could also be used to spread out aggression, but then by definition they should be called target fish.
If you use dither or target fish with large SA/CA cichlids, you may as well call them lunch. Best dithers/targets would be quick fish, just big enough not to fit into the cichlids mouth.
What type cichlids are you considering dithers for?
If you use dither or target fish with large SA/CA cichlids, you may as well call them lunch. Best dithers/targets would be quick fish, just big enough not to fit into the cichlids mouth.
What type cichlids are you considering dithers for?
I was thinking of getting some dithers for my Buttikoferi myself.
Also kinda wanna dump my flowerhorn for something else, not sure what yet, he's really shy, nothing can fix it. Its pretty unhappy all the time... if I change the water is sulks for days... and I change the water twice a week, so its pretty much a manic depressive fish all the time. I should have put the dithers with the butti.
Also kinda wanna dump my flowerhorn for something else, not sure what yet, he's really shy, nothing can fix it. Its pretty unhappy all the time... if I change the water is sulks for days... and I change the water twice a week, so its pretty much a manic depressive fish all the time. I should have put the dithers with the butti.
I had a dozen feeder guppies kept in my main 125AGA, with some fairly large SA cichlids (uaru's, sevs) , silver dollars, a horde of CL's and the guppies are flourishing. 
In fact I kind of like the look of the tank with all sizes of fish present from 1" to 11"...FYI the guppies have expanded to over 3 doz and their swarm is growing...
In fact I kind of like the look of the tank with all sizes of fish present from 1" to 11"...FYI the guppies have expanded to over 3 doz and their swarm is growing...Mr Pleco;1180390; said:I had a dozen feeder guppies kept in my main 125AGA, with some fairly large SA cichlids (uaru's, sevs) , silver dollars, a horde of CL's and the guppies are flourishing.
LOL, it happens !!!
Arapaimag (The member with the 50,000 gallon aquarium) found a shoal of guppies living under some large driftwood pieces... This is awesome because he used tons of guppies and other things to cycle the "Tank" in 1995... And in a tank full of huge cichlids, arapaima gigas, silver aro's, rays, HUGE catfish (30" +) and all kinds of things... These guppies continue to live.
Pretty cool stuff.
buttikoferi (unless they are still under 3 inches) will pretty much decimate any dithers in the tank.