Prefered dither for Sajicas

[Dwl0222]

hi all, so I’m currently making progress on my 75 gallon cycle. I’m planning on stocking 4-5 juvenile Sajica and hoping to get a pair out of them. My plan was to keep just the pair but I may keep 1 male to 3 females if it seems to be working ok after a pair forms. My question is, what dithers do you suggest with Sajica? My PH is 8-8.2, so that might have to be considered....obviously I’m looking into tetras and swordtails but I’m wondering if there are any specific types that are favorites among medium sized Central American cichlids. Thanks for your help!

Doug

 

[dan518]

Lots of livebeares to choose from.
Brachyraphis spp
Phallichthys spp
Xiphophorus
Xenophallus
Just a few examples.
Depends on what is available in your area.

 

[duanes]

Agree with Dan about the I've bearers.
There are tetras (genus Astyanax) that tolerate hard water, but they can be quite aggressive and nippy, tending to trim the fin trailers on cichlids, some reach lengths of over 5"., and depending on where you live, sometimes not so easily available.
Buenos Aires tetras might be an alternative, coming from the harder waters of Southern Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, water harder than most Amazonian soft water species do.
Below is a video I took in Aktun Ha (Car wash Cenote) in the southern Riviera Maya Mexico. near Tulum, with many Astyanax tetras and Poecilia and Gambusia live bearers, every time I flinch the tetras are chewing on my earlobes, and neck, definitely not shy.
Aktun Ha

 

[Dwl0222]

Lots of livebeares to choose from.
Brachyraphis spp
Phallichthys spp
Xiphophorus
Xenophallus
Just a few examples.
Depends on what is available in your area.

Thank you! Yeah around me is mostly the typical swordtails/mollies/platys etc. I don’t mind them but was hoping for something a little less typical. I don’t mind buying online to get a specific type that works and that i want. Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll be looking them up and researching soon!

Agree with Dan about the I've bearers.
There are tetras (genus Astyanax) that tolerate hard water, but they can be quite aggressive and nippy, tending to trim the fin trailers on cichlids, some reach lengths of over 5"., and depending on where you live, sometimes not so easily available.
Buenos Aires tetras might be an alternative, coming from the harder waters of Southern Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, water harder than most Amazonian soft water species do.
Below is a video I took in Aktun Ha (Car wash Cenote) in the southern Riviera Maya Mexico. near Tulum, with many Astyanax tetras and Poecilia and Gambusia live bearers, every time I flinch the tetras are chewing on my earlobes, and neck, definitely not shy.
Aktun Ha

Cool video! Wow didn’t realize they could be so nippy, especially with larger fish. I definitely don’t want the Sajicas fins being eaten. Buenos Aires Tetras are definitely an option I’m open to. I have had them a few times in the past so hoping to come up with something new, but I think they’d work well for sure.

 

[Dwl0222]

You guys generally prefer 1 big school (18-20) or 2 smaller schools (10 each)? Also, I’m debating whether to have a catfish or pleco or not. Kind of leaning toward staying away. They seem to make a huge mess and you don’t see them too often. I know there’re more active types, but I’m afraid the Sajicas would harass them. Thoughts?

 

[duanes]

When I choose dithers I am a bit of a old Fuddy duddy, I like subdued natural color species, I don't want the line bred for bright color types to draw attention away from the main focus, the cichlids.
In your case I (personally) wouldn't want anything to distract from the intense blue of the sajica's


I find the green swordtails like Xiphorus mayae below to not draw the eye away,


or like sailfin mollies (beautiful in their own right, but not what I consider garish (like the line bred oranges or reds)

 

[Dwl0222]

When I choose dithers I am a bit of a old Fuddy duddy, I like subdued natural color species, I don't want the line bred for bright color types to draw attention away from the main focus, the cichlids.
In your case I (personally) wouldn't want anything to distract from the intense blue of the sajica's


I find the green swordtails like Xiphorus mayae below to not draw the eye away,


or like sailfin mollies (beautiful in their own right, but not what I consider garish (like the line bred oranges or reds)

Yes! That’s exactly what I’m hoping for too. I would like to stay away from the typical reg wag platy, orange swordtail etc etc. Somehing with a LITTLE color so it’s nice looking, but not enough to distract you from the main fish. I LOVE the green swordtail! I’m going to have to see how easily I can find them.

 

[Gourami Swami]

This is a website with lots of uncommon livebearers available
http://selectaquatics.com/
I have not actually bought from this site, so can't attest to the shipping or offer a positive review or anything, just a site I have seen, which is pretty much the only place to get rare goodeids and other CA livebearers. I do hope to order some fish from them next time I set up a CA tank

 

[Dwl0222]

This is a website with lots of uncommon livebearers available
http://selectaquatics.com/
I have not actually bought from this site, so can't attest to the shipping or offer a positive review or anything, just a site I have seen, which is pretty much the only place to get rare goodeids and other CA livebearers. I do hope to order some fish from them next time I set up a CA tank

Wow that seems like a great site! I may have to give them a shot. They seem to have some larger bodied swordtails, some that reach 5-6 inches. If I go that route how many should I get? Also, some have extremely long tails, they won’t be an issue with a pair of Sajica will they? The extra long tail won’t be extra tempting to the sajica will it? That may be a dumb question but I wanted to ask anyway haha.

 

[duanes]

Sajica are inept predators at best, and not piscivores. This doesn't mean they won't eat live bearer fry, or any fish that gets caught up in a precarious spot.
The way many dithers avoid predation is in a shoal or school that is constantly moving, the activity tends to confuse predators. So as far as how many to get, get a large enough shoal that provides that type confusion will help. I usually find shoals of 6-10 are a good start, as long as the tank can tolerate the extra bioload.
I would also remove obviously pregnant females to drop fry in a safe tank or sump, to add more numbers to the shoal as time goes by. Live bearers are not generally long lived fish, so getting 2 years out of an individual is a pretty good run.