Livebearers as Dithers for cichlids

[Something Fishy Here]

So got my 90 gal up and running, nearly cycled with some giant danios and yoyo loaches. Still deciding on what cichlids to go with, leaning towards GT or may try a Carpintis and if he outgrows it, find him a home and go back to the GT idea. I've read some suggestions to use mollies, platys, or swords as dither fish and the frequent offspring provide live treats for your cichlids. Does this give them more of a taste for live food, or increase aggression towards the adult dither fish? Would sticking to pellets and frozen foods reduce the chance of aggression?

 

[tlindsey]

I've read some suggestions to use mollies, platys, or swords as dither fish and the frequent offspring provide live treats for your cichlids.

If you grow them both out together while Cichlid is small should be fine.

Does this give them more of a taste for live food, or increase aggression towards the adult dither fish?

If fed pellets or other foods the taste for live doubtful as for eating the adult livebearer..
Possible for a cichlid to kill a livebearer especially after a spawn.

 

[Deadeye]

For many Central American cichlids, mollies and swordtails are the natural dither.
If the adults are large enough, it should keep the cichlids from eating them.

 

[Toiletcar]

I would go for tetras vs livebarers for a GT or caprintis. Fine while young, but adults may kill them. Tetras are faster so less chance of them getting picked off. I’ve had h. Deppii, a smaller relative of h. Caprintis kill large swordtails. Also had the same experience with h. Cyanoguttatus as adults.
IMO/IME livebarers work better with smaller and less aggressive cichlids. I keep swordtails w/ mostly cribroheros and thorichthys cichlids for example.

 

[newworld]

90 gallon w green terror or carpintis w livebearers? Ha good luck

 

[duanes]

I would go for tetras vs livebarers for a GT or caprintis.
IMO/IME livebarers work better with smaller and less aggressive cichlids. I keep swordtails w/ mostly cribroheros and thorichthys cichlids for example.

Agree with this, carpintus get too large for most live bearers as dither, especially in that limited amount of space, LBs would be too easily cornered.
They really are only suitable for smaller mouthed omnivores, that tend toward being herbivorous cichlids, not those leaning toward being piscivores like carpintus or Andinoacara.

With Andinoacara coerleopunctatus (close cousin to a GT) I have have good luck with largish tetras, that get similar in size to the cichlids, and are quick, like the
Roeboides in the video below
Panamanian Tank

 

[Something Fishy Here]

Ok thanks for the info everyone. Still not sure which cichlid I'll end up with. Not crazy about livebearers anyway just thought it was a neat idea for fresh snacks. I'm not that excited by tetras really either. Might just stick to the giant danios i have. Also really liked the Denison barbs i had in an old tank and they got pretty fast and big. But are a bit more expensive if they turn into snacks.

 

[Deadeye]

Aussie rainbows are good looking and get a decent size as well.

 

[Something Fishy Here]

The only rainbows i see at the lfs are usually the blue and yellow half and half ones which I'm not fond of. But i know there are several varieties. I saw some black banded ones online that are pretty handsome

 

[duanes]

Although its probably a plus for you as an aquarist to be fond of whatever dither fish you have.
Dither fish don't need to be colorful, or interesting, often times, dither fish are seemingly mindless, bumbling, schoolers.
Hense the term, dither fish.
The point of dither fish is to serve a purpose, to make your main focus of the tank (in your case a future cichlid) feel comfortable, and show itself .
Without dither fish, many cichlids spend most of the day hiding, until they feel comfortable.
Cichlids use, and watch dither fish in nature as an early warning system, and that instinct does not go away because they are put in a glass box.
If mindless ditherers are nonchalantly bumbling around, then the cichlids deem it to be safe to come out, (that danger), in the form of fish eating birds or other predators is not present.

As in the video below
Azul imovie edit