Dithers/target fish project, good or bad idea

[John Rambo]

I have some mean central americans living in a large tank, but they still end up ripping fins. I feed them well, have many decorations that I move around fequently, and I turn off the lights half the day, but they still have minor fighting. So now I plan on introducing a large school of dithers/target fish. I tried crawdads and it seemed to distract the fish a bit so they fight each other less. I was thinking minows, tiger barbs and giant danos. Total of 30-40 dithers total. I also may go with some silver dollars. I have pairs of parachromis, an umbee, carpintis, and cubans from 8" to 12". My tank is a 600 gallon tank.
good idea or bad idea?
I would also like to hear from those who have tried the dither/target fish technique, if it works well or if its just an expensive meal for my fish.
ps. by target fish I dont mean fish from Target.
Thanks

 

[cchhcc]

In my experience, and mid-level swimming fish introduced after the fact elicit a prey response from the existing inhabitants. I've had good results with surface swimmers (mosquito fish and other livebearers) with fish of all sizes. They seem to be more oblivious of their surroundings than are barbs and other mid-level swimmers.

Perhaps if you made a huge water change and added the dithers before refilling ALL of the fish would be similarly scared. My troubles have been when you introduce dithers and they freak out (as fish tend to do in a new tank). The big guys see that and the fedding frenzy is on!

 

[FSM]

Get something large enough to avoid being eaten. Large SDs, red hooks, etc.

 

[John Rambo]

i wanted to avoid adding another true member to the tank. red tail barbs or pacu, for example, will hold their own but will also keep a section of the tank as well and add a significant amount of waste to the water. Just wondering if anyone found a fish which is too small to be another real member of the tank yet fast enough or large enough to get pushed around but survive.
Im going out today to buy the tiger barbs. maybe 15-20. I'll post pics later.

 

[shamrock]

Perhaps if you made a huge water change and added the dithers before refilling ALL of the fish would be similarly scared. My troubles have been when you introduce dithers and they freak out (as fish tend to do in a new tank). The big guys see that and the fedding frenzy is on! quoted by cchhcc

Could not agree with you more-when I have dithers they are established first and atleast twice the size of the cichlids.

 

[John Rambo]

i wanted to avoid adding another true member to the tank. red tail barbs or pacu, for example, will hold their own but will also keep a section of the tank as well and add a significant amount of waste to the water. Just wondering if anyone found a fish which is too small to be another real member of the tank yet fast enough or large enough to get pushed around but survive.
Im going out today to buy the tiger barbs. maybe 15-20. I'll post pics later.

I bought 25 Giant Danios and my fish were totally distracted, but They only lasted a week. Eaten