She has a planted tank though and unless she has changed her views on planted tanks sds and most barbs are probably going to need to be out.
Dithers?
- Thread starter Sarahmander
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Red and gold barbs could work with a planted tank. Usually the only plant safe barbs. Quick enough to get away from the bichirs. Just a thought.
The only problem with that is in the light they are quick but they will start to disappear at night. That's what happened with my dels anything that was quick but could fit and even some that couldnt got chomped after lights out.
Some good suggestions - agree that you should stay away from barbs and the SDs - they will house your plants.
I'd consider a smaller / medium cichlid just because their behaviors are interesting to me, and they're personable. I always thought rainbow cichlids would be a cool 'dither.' Some people have luck with Severum with plants, others don't. I always wanted to try a few.
I did one angel and that was fine, but they are cichlids so you'd have to be prepared for potential aggression/rehoming if you got a group. Mine ended up harassing my Cteno (don't think that's really very common) so I rehomed him. I think part of that was because the tank was only 3 ft long (stupid 65 gallon) so there was less room for territory establishing.
Or you could go with australian rainbows.
I liked my Bentosi tetras - pink, so added color, schooled fairly closely together, ate like pirhanas and were fun to watch - and they were large enough for my polys to not bother them, but my polys really never ate anything other than rummynose (torpedo-shaped) fish, so I was fairly lucky in that department. If you go with them, get a decent sized group, hopefully larger fish to start, and be sure to get a mix of male/females to make it most interesting. Males are more striking with their dorsal fins but I think you need a few ladies to get the males feisty.
They're wide bodied but shorter than Congos though, so maybe more of a risk?
I'd consider a smaller / medium cichlid just because their behaviors are interesting to me, and they're personable. I always thought rainbow cichlids would be a cool 'dither.' Some people have luck with Severum with plants, others don't. I always wanted to try a few.
I did one angel and that was fine, but they are cichlids so you'd have to be prepared for potential aggression/rehoming if you got a group. Mine ended up harassing my Cteno (don't think that's really very common) so I rehomed him. I think part of that was because the tank was only 3 ft long (stupid 65 gallon) so there was less room for territory establishing.
Or you could go with australian rainbows.
I liked my Bentosi tetras - pink, so added color, schooled fairly closely together, ate like pirhanas and were fun to watch - and they were large enough for my polys to not bother them, but my polys really never ate anything other than rummynose (torpedo-shaped) fish, so I was fairly lucky in that department. If you go with them, get a decent sized group, hopefully larger fish to start, and be sure to get a mix of male/females to make it most interesting. Males are more striking with their dorsal fins but I think you need a few ladies to get the males feisty.
They're wide bodied but shorter than Congos though, so maybe more of a risk?
SDs will eat plants a bit as well as pelcos
To me it's all natural and I let them do their thing
In fact I find it interesting to watch
Yes it's a little disheartening when you have brand new plants
I just prune and get new plants
SDs are great IMO
To me it's all natural and I let them do their thing
In fact I find it interesting to watch
Yes it's a little disheartening when you have brand new plants
I just prune and get new plants
SDs are great IMO
Yeah I put in 10 tetras to see what would happen.... I have 3 left. Only disappeared at night. They leave the 3 mollies alone though. Still a little big for them to eat, I guess.
Im with rocksor sd's good easily out compete other fish for food. I had to over feed the tank so that an oscar and a few other cichlids and plecos could get there share
