native dithers for pelvicachromis?

[Hybridfish7]

I am not as familiar as I'd like to be with west african fish, but from what I can see, any sort of thing I would probably use as a dither, like some of the african tetras or barbs, are extremely relatively expensive. What dithers (from the same area) can be used for pelvicachromis species for a biotope type setting, that aren't incredibly expensive to buy a school of and aren't actual congo tetras?

 

[cockroach]

I have been looking at the same thing for my nannochromis transvestitus. All I have come up with thus far that are relatively common and affordable are Norman's Lampeye Killi's (Poropanchax normani). They are peaceful, like to be in groups and stay at the top away from the cichlids and their eggs at the bottom.

 

[Pangaea]

How big is your tank? Maybe the african butterfly fish is an option if your tank is not too small. I never kept them myself, but they are really odd. And jumpers, so your tank needs to have a tight lid.

 

[Deadeye]

The Masked Shadow
There are some barbs and tetras, not sure about cheap ones though. The killie idea works well though.

 

[Pangaea]

I was talking about this fish:

Pantodon buchholzi (African Butterfly Fish) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

 

[The Masked Shadow]

I’ve had problems with my Congo Tetra dithers, and by that, I mean MANY problems, and hundreds of dollars spent on them, so you should probably not get those. I think any African Killifish would work. As stated above, Normans Lampeye Killifish would be great. They are well behaved, and you’ll find they are one of the prettiest fish species.

 

[Milingu]

What about African banded barbs - Enteromius fasciolatus?
They are not expensive (at least not here), not too aggressive and quite hardy. And they can look quite stunning.

 

[Deadeye]

I was talking about this fish:

Pantodon buchholzi (African Butterfly Fish) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

They are a beautiful fish, but not dither material imo. More of a centerpiece and they don’t have the same mindless behavior that is required of a dither. Good krib tankmate though.

 

[Pangaea]

They are a beautiful fish, but not dither material imo. More of a centerpiece and they don’t have the same mindless behavior that is required of a dither. Good krib tankmate though.

Yeah, you're probably right.

 

[duanes]

Beside the barbs and tetras mentioned, there are many species of killifish and Lampeyes(Aphyosemions (Nothobrachidae), that inhabit the same shallow, low pH areas.
Not often available in LFSs you could contact people from the American Killifish Assn, who often trade or sell eggs thru the mail.
I have used killifish as dithers, and for their amazing colors with smaller cichlids.

The Gularus above and below reach about 3" and have a life span of about 3 years, hung around near the tanks surface, out of the way of many substrate hugging cichlids.