Livebearers as Dithers for cichlids

[aussieman57]

If there was a perfect thread for my current plans I think this would be it lol.
Now in the 75 I have 6 swordtails with plans to move my convict in there as a solo cichlid. That’s going to be the entire stock for the tank. I’d love to hear others’ experience with keeping Amatitlania and livebearers together.

That should work out just fine.

 

[Toiletcar]

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.
View attachment 1503243
As in the video below
Azul imovie edit

This is a very good point. I’m sure a lot of people want something that looks nice, but cheap and expendable is what you want. Often cheap doesn’t look nice though. Aggressive cichlids will quickly kill the dithers off as mentioned in this thread. I have tetras and livebarers but I consider them tank mates vs dithers. I like them as much as the cichlids.