Prefered dither for Sajicas

[Gourami Swami]

I usually go for one male and a bunch of females, I find in 4 foot tanks males end up killing each other. Perhaps you could crowd them like mbuna and get 5 or 6 males to disperse their aggression, I have only really tried with 3 or so. But every time I keep a group of livebearers, I end up with one male after a while.

 

[Dwl0222]

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.

Ok great, so I shouldn’t have to worry about the sajica too much. Yeah I was hoping and planning on at least 8-10, so that’ll work for me.

 

[Dwl0222]

I usually go for one male and a bunch of females, I find in 4 foot tanks males end up killing each other. Perhaps you could crowd them like mbuna and get 5 or 6 males to disperse their aggression, I have only really tried with 3 or so. But every time I keep a group of livebearers, I end up with one male after a while.

That might be a problem as far as that website is concerned...seems like they sell by the pair, or in packs of 6 fry. So it seems you’re either getting a 1/1 ratio or you’re getting unsexed fry which chances are you’ll get 2 males or more. I dunno that I wanna pay the premium for a rare species and shipping, and get 4 males and have them kill each other. Decisions decisions haha

 

[Dwl0222]

I usually go for one male and a bunch of females, I find in 4 foot tanks males end up killing each other. Perhaps you could crowd them like mbuna and get 5 or 6 males to disperse their aggression, I have only really tried with 3 or so. But every time I keep a group of livebearers, I end up with one male after a while.

That might be a problem as far as that website is concerned...seems like they sell by the pair, or in packs of 6 fry. So it seems you’re either getting a 1/1 ratio or you’re getting unsexed fry which chances are you’ll get 2 males or more. I dunno that I wanna pay the premium for a rare species and shipping, and get 4 males and have them kill each other. Decisions decisions haha

Oops no I’m sorry, it appears that he does sex and sell Xiphophorus mayae at 8.50 a piece, or six 2-4 month olds at $35. So if i wanted 1 male and 8-9 females i could get them. The others seem to be out of stock or the site doesn’t specify being able to sex them. So it would be a bit of a premium to pay (at least for me, compared to what I’m used to).

 

[Toiletcar]

Oops no I’m sorry, it appears that he does sex and sell Xiphophorus mayae at 8.50 a piece, or six 2-4 month olds at $35. So if i wanted 1 male and 8-9 females i could get them. The others seem to be out of stock or the site doesn’t specify being able to sex them. So it would be a bit of a premium to pay (at least for me, compared to what I’m used to).

X. Mayae are an excellent choice. Honestly I’d get 6-12 fry and grow them out in another tank if you can.

I recently bought 6 poecilia mexicana, but I was limited to 6 and all male. In fact they said all their stock turned male. Not sure why that would happen. Usually livebarers change sex with the absence of the opposite sex.

 

[Dwl0222]

X. Mayae are an excellent choice. Honestly I’d get 6-12 fry and grow them out in another tank if you can.

I recently bought 6 poecilia mexicana, but I was limited to 6 and all male. In fact they said all their stock turned male. Not sure why that would happen. Usually livebarers change sex with the absence of the opposite sex.

I just found out that a local LFS stocks Xiphophorus helleri regularly and is getting a shipment on Monday. Hopefully my tank is cycled and ready by then! Their price is 3.99 a piece so I may go that route instead to save a bunch of cash. I think I’ll at least try and grow out 1 or 2 fry per batch to keep my tank well stocked since Livebearers typically don’t live very long.

 

[Dwl0222]

Do you guys use salt for your Livebearers? They prefer it don’t they? If so, how much do you use? Does it have any affect on the cichlids?

 

[Toiletcar]

Do you guys use salt for your Livebearers? They prefer it don’t they? If so, how much do you use? Does it have any affect on the cichlids?

Nope, they don’t need it. Not even mollies. Most livebarers found at LFS are hybrids. The green swordtail looks the most natural of them all imo. The ones I have have spots. Some have them, some don’t. The hybrids don’t get as big as wild types. These female green swords are about 4”.

 

[duanes]

Especially for Xiphorus swordtails, no salt is needed, although certain mollies seem to do best with some salinity (the sailfins come to my mind)

 

[Dwl0222]

Nope, they don’t need it. Not even mollies. Most livebarers found at LFS are hybrids. The green swordtail looks the most natural of them all imo. The ones I have have spots. Some have them, some don’t. The hybrids don’t get as big as wild types. These female green swords are about 4”.

View attachment 1352224

Ok great, I do have some salt on hand in case of injury or disease etc. I read some varying opinions on whether or not to use it, but I’d rather not use anything I don’t need. Those Greens look awesome! Hope I get my hands on some similar to that!

Especially for Xiphorus swordtails, no salt is needed, although certain mollies seem to do best with some salinity (the sailfins come to my mind)

Ok great, no salt it is!