Introducing dithers/loaches/catfish

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

RedH2O

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 1, 2009
358
1
0
Saskatchewan
Well i've been growing some silver dollers up in a 75gal and there around the 3" mark. I've been wanting to introduce them to my 240gal with my much larger aggressive cichlids and it is making me nervous to do so. From what I gather cichlids are only aggressive towards cichlids for the most part.

Fish in the tank consist of: 1 trimac(3") 1 oscar(10") 1 Salvini (5") 1 female Jag (6") 2 Striped Rapheal catfish (3") and 1 Giant danio (believe it or not) The danio has been with from juvies and is rarely if ever chased he taunts the fish at times following them around.

My plan for the oscar is a 75gal to himself when or/if any problems arise with him getting picked on. Jag and salvini may go aswell if I get a female for my trimac.

I figure if it is just the trimac pair in there with the silver dollers the shouldn't harm them.

Sorry to bore you with all this info but just thought id tell you exactly where i stand with this. Now how do I go by introducing these fish in there?
 
There are probably some things you can do to make it more possible but there is really no one that could give you a 100% guaranteed way to introduce all your silver dollars with 100% success. Ultimately the purpose they will serve will to be targets for your cichlids aggression, meaning live punching bags or whatever the fish equivalent is.

Some ways to help make it work would to be to add them while the lights are off and the fish already in the tank will be less active. I have also found that feeding the tank right after introducing new fish helps to distract the original tank mates while the new ones take a chance to get acquainted to the tank
 
Ya i've seen all these members on here with SDs with there cichlids. It looks great i've also seen bichers, clown loaches with them aswell but id assume trimac would make quick work of them. Atleast the silver dollers are fast. One thing I have learn and read is that with the lights off thats when most of the attacks occur is during the night. I will try to feed them very well before I would introduce them, ive also had the idea to take the cichlids out and have each in there own 5gal bucket of tank water, while i let the SD's out of the bags let them settle in a bit before so they learn the tank first.

Could use any tips tho, thanks for the reply
 
i found feeding the fish on one side to keep their attention over on one side then slowly slip the fish in on the other side. Then turn the lights off for a while. this has worked the best for me.
 
Good advice guys thanks, im gonna combined all these ideas together. Hopefully it works out, silver dollers aren't exactly cheap.
 
Let us know how well the SDs work. I have been thinking about trying them in my tank. But after what happened to the Giant Danios, I've been really hesitant. I hope it works for you.
 
I always introduce new fish right after a water change and with the lights off in the tank and in the room for a while. Never had silver dollars but it worked when I put cories in a 20 gal with a female Krib. The first time I tried she got pissed at them but I took them back out, did a water change, moved some decor around and turned off the lights for the night and they get along fairly well now.
 
Oh another thing i've fed my fish live minnows before and they made short work of them. I hope they dont go after the silver dollers like that or they will be "fast food" the jag and oscar are the ones im mainly worried about Salvini never went after the minnows. The trimac grabbed a few but i think the SDs will be to large for him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom