Silver dollars as dithers

[saltydog_1]

it doesnt last long but it seems to fill them up. all my cichlids love it too. i actually have to give my female jack dempsey about a third of a sheet before i put the clip in the tank or she just takes it all. after that the sd's nibble at it until they are satisfied. i havent had a plant touched in probably 4-5 months. fish always take the easiest food, you just have to supply it.

 

[Carg R]

I like 'em as dither & after a while they'll spawn regularly (twice a month or so) and spew hundreds of snacks all over the tank. It quickly turns into a fishy congo line-everybody following the Silver dollars looking for a free lunch.

They are a bit skittish though.

I've recently found that oreochromis tanganyika make good dither fish & get large enough fast enough for most large cichlids too. The oreochromis compete for food a bit too much for smaller fish, unlike my silver dollars.

 

[jdryden]

I like 'em as dither & after a while they'll spawn regularly (twice a month or so) and spew hundreds of snacks all over the tank. It quickly turns into a fishy congo line-everybody following the Silver dollars looking for a free lunch.

They are a bit skittish though.

I've recently found that oreochromis tanganyika make good dither fish & get large enough fast enough for most large cichlids too. The oreochromis compete for food a bit too much for smaller fish, unlike my silver dollars.

I think skittish may be an understatement. I don't know if it's only b/c I added three SDs or not, but I've never seen fish so skittish. I'm afraid they will wind up killing themselves.

 

[balton777]

I have 12 Silver Dollars-7 Red Hooks and 5 regular ole SD's. Mine are not skittish at all. In fact they're very calm most of the time gracefully swimming back and forth around the tank or all grouped together chillin'. I've heard SD's are skittish numerous times but never see it in mine. Can I ask what size tank your Silver Dollars are in? Oh and how many do you keep together and how big are they?

 

[jdryden]

I have 12 Silver Dollars-7 Red Hooks and 5 regular ole SD's. Mine are not skittish at all. In fact they're very calm most of the time gracefully swimming back and forth around the tank or all grouped together chillin'. I've heard SD's are skittish numerous times but never see it in mine. Can I ask what size tank your Silver Dollars are in? Oh and how many do you keep together and how big are they?

I have four in a 55 with a small jag, dempsey, gold saum, (all about 3 inches long) and a senegal and ornate bichir both about 6" and a little albino senegal about 3". I have another 55 being set up to seperate the dempsey and gold saum out into. I plan on upgrading the Jag to a 75 and the bichirs will be going into probably a 125 in a few months.

 

[balton777]

I have four in a 55 with a small jag, dempsey, gold saum, (all about 3 inches long) and a senegal and ornate bichir both about 6" and a little albino senegal about 3". I have another 55 being set up to seperate the dempsey and gold saum out into. I plan on upgrading the Jag to a 75 and the bichirs will be going into probably a 125 in a few months.

I think tank size is the cause of skittishness. I only have 4 smaller ones in a 156g and 8 in a 253g. The extra space keeps them more relaxed. The other cichlids don't bother them too often and they keep the cichlid aggression down by having more fish in the tank. SD's are great to have IMO.