Dither/Target fish for Large Aggressive American Cichlids

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Murrayjane

Murrayjane

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
May 17, 2013
53
4
38
Redlands, CA
Anyone suggest using some slightly smaller Cichlids to act as Dither/Target fish for larger agressive Cichlids?

I have a 135 (US) Gallon aquarium with a Managuense (looks male), Festae (female), and Green Terror (Male). There are also 3 Bichirs 7-9 Inches. Senegal, Endlichiri, Delhezi

All Cichlids are currently around 4-7 inches and currently live peacefully.
 
If everything is peaceful why add anything? My suggestion is to leave well enough alone.

But is seems like the most common response to a small target cichlid usually is convict.
 
DMD123 said:
If everything is peaceful why add anything? My suggestion is to leave well enough alone.

But is seems like the most common response to a small target cichlid usually is convict.
Click to expand...

Agreed a convict is a good dither/target or SD work as well. Keep in mind that a large managuense can and will eat both quite easily or the may just get killed.


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Yeah I certainly want to keep the overall tranquility, but I was hoping to have a little more diversity in terms of size and hierarchy. Would a small school (2-4) fire mouths, acaras, or other smaller, less aggressive cichlids just become lunch if they are raised together with the larger? Or can a tolerance be achieved? A single convict isn't exactly what I am looking for. More like a small school of something that can claim a small area for themselves but also dart around the tank without getting massacred.
 
I wouldn't add a group of firemouths or acaras. They'd just get beaten to death especially acara. The thing is with the jag and festae you're a little limited on adding anything in the cichlid department. If you're looking for something to dart around and not get slaughtered convicts are the answer. Firemouth would just hide and be stressed same with the acara


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Crazy mike said:
I wouldn't add a group of firemouths or acaras. They'd just get beaten to death especially acara. The thing is with the jag and festae you're a little limited on adding anything in the cichlid department. If you're looking for something to dart around and not get slaughtered convicts are the answer. Firemouth would just hide and be stressed same with the acara


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Click to expand...

So with a small group of convicts, would they need to be the same sex? If they are different sexes they will pair and most likely be beaten or aggravate the other cichlids/bichirs???

How many would you try to have? If I keep 3-5 I think it would look awesome and would divert the attention of the jag, green terror and festae from each other

Please advise
 
There isn't a "schooling" cichlid that would live with that stock. I'd do male cons,female would probably get eaten really quickly. If you had a pair they'd more than likely do more harm to the bichir than anything else.


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You need to count your blessings and leave well enough alone. That is a volatile combo you have brewing especially with a male jag in the mix.

If you must I'd recommend convicts (2) with areas to hide. Maybe some bigger SD's (min 6). I think anything else will be killed. Firemouth & acara can't take the abuse that will be dished out in that tank.
 
3 would be a good a number but I'd wait to add anything. From what you've said the tank is peaceful and adding anything cichlid wise may just mess up the peace. And adding cichlids to a already established tank usually results in the quick beating or death of the new fish.


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