Dither/target fish question

[Joshuakahan]

Hi, I have a standard 75 stocked with a bluegill, warmouth, Texas cichlid, African leaf fish, vc10 hap ( I know, I pulled her from my Malawi tank cuz I think it looks like a SA) tbar and a Senegal bichir. They’re all in the 2-3” range except for the 7” bichir. Alls going well so far except the bluegill likes to chase the Hap, tbar, warmouth and Texas. It’s not overly bad, but I can see it getting bad. So I’m thinking about adding a school of target fish. Anyone have advice on if this will work and what fish would be good for this purpose?
Thanks

 

[tlindsey]

Hi, I have a standard 75 stocked with a bluegill, warmouth, Texas cichlid, African leaf fish, vc10 hap ( I know, I pulled her from my Malawi tank cuz I think it looks like a SA) tbar and a Senegal bichir. They’re all in the 2-3” range except for the 7” bichir. Alls going well so far except the bluegill likes to chase the Hap, tbar, warmouth and Texas. It’s not overly bad, but I can see it getting bad. So I’m thinking about adding a school of target fish. Anyone have advice on if this will work and what fish would be good for this purpose?
Thanks

Welcome aboard

Tbh adding dither fish with the species in the 75 gallon won't work. Your analysis is correct as the fish grow the aggression among the Native and Cichlids will become intense. It will become a territorial issue. Be prepared to remove or rehome.

 

[duanes]

The term "target fish" is a fish used to distract the alphas in the tank, one the alphas can chase (target) so they don't bother fish like their own females to death.
Looks like you already have a number of target fish, and that number will grow as the most alpha of the tank grow in territorial needs, and status, to a point (as Tom said) you will need to remove some.
None of your perciformes would be considered community species, especially in such a small tank, so even dither fish won't solve your problem.
Dither fish are schooling type like minnows or tetras that aimlessly shoal around distracting the alphas from exercising their alpha-ness.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Thanks for the help, I won’t get any dithers. I think I’ll put the bluegill in my columbian Tetra tank for a week and reintroduce him to shake up the pecking order. If need be, I’ll put the Hap back in my Malawi tank and rehome the Texas . The warmouth, leaf fish and bichir are the definite keepers.