Dithers for my Dovii..

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

Mudfrog

Piranha
MFK Member
Oct 3, 2005
3,210
90
81
47
VA
Ok, been reading up on some dithers.. not targets.. and I'm wanting to get my dovii out in the open more then they currently are. For a 150gal what would be an ideal dither until my Dovii (6.5" Female, 5.5" Male and 3" runt) get big enough that they are comfortable being out on their own. They are currently under 7".

I've read Giant Danios, but I'd be concerned with the jumping, Silver dollars which would be fine if they worked and Tinfoil Barbs which I would probably prefer if they would do the job as well. Anything with some color that would work?

Any other suggestions or comments?
 
hey mudfrog, i keep gaint danois with my 6 inch green terror and he doesn't bother them one bit. there also very lively and full of color especially on the dorsal fin were they have a tint of of orange, here in nyc there pretty cheap and i have a school of 6, and thinking of going to 12. :P
 
I think you would have better luck with convicts, mbuna or salvinis, a little too large to be easily swallowed. Maybe jewels if you can find them large enough. As long as there are some small caves for these fish to hide some of the time.

I wouldn't count on danios, giant or regular, or any other kind of small dither to last long with dovii. The fish has to be able to take a small bite from the doviis, at least once in a while, which these little fishes certainly can't.

Cichlids have high speed darts, ESPECIALLY dovii. If they really want to kill a danio, it might take a little effort, but they certainly can. I have had cons, and even a paradise fish, peg off danios and kill them.
 
Thats why I'm thinking tinfoil barbs.. they are fast enough and tough enough to take a bite here and there, plus they will grow fairly quickly as well.

But as I said, I'm looking for fish to make the dovii feel comfortable and get them out more. Believe it or not I did have a pair of cons in with the Dovii about 4 months ago, and the dovii were scared of them, so not looking to go down that road again lol.
 
I tried all 3 fish you mentioned and my dovii destroyed all of them. Of course, it was probably bigger than yours is right now.
I'd try cons and give them a pile of rocks or driftwood to hide in for when the dovii decides to try to kill them.
 
Yes, I think tinfoil barbs have some chance of working well, at least over the short term. Never kept them with dovii, but I have kept one with other large aggressive CA, and it did O.K.

Eventually your tinfoils are going to get BIG, and they will probably get in the way. You'd probably want to consider removing some or all, at some future point in time, before they get severely pounded on:ROFL:
 
Juvi midas or something?
 
Ended up getting 5 Giant Danios as they were only $1.99 each, so if I have some casualties it won't be the end of the world. So far the female still hides but she did come out a few times, the male has come out and is watching the Danios swim around.. He looks intrigued..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom