Best choice of dither fish?

[Nebraska_cichlids]

What dither fish can you recommend for my various tanks with West African cichlids (including Chromidotilapia, Pelvicachromis, Nanochromis, Steatocranus, Stomatepia, Tilapia, and Hemichromis species). I would really prefer to go with West African characins or barbs, rather than platies or similar (Ted, :wink: )? I have been trying Congo tetras and Yellow Congos with mixed success. Especially when the cichlids have fry to protect, the congos are not doing all that great. Some Brycinus and Neolebias are currently being shipped to me. I realize that the Neolebias do not make dithers for cichlids, and they will be in a tank on their own.

Any suggestions are appreciated, in particular if they come with a potential source for where to get the fish!

 

[tjudy]

I do not use african tetras for dithers in the tank with my westies, but only because I use small tanks. I breed all of my Pel. taen., sub. and pulcher in 15 gallon tanks, and there is just not room for a few large characins. My other concern is always going to be fry predation; however, westies are such good parents that I do not think that many dithers will get a chance at eating the fry. I have some killifish (Pachypanchax playfairi) fry that are almost an inch long, and I am planning to try those as dithers (though the males are very aggressive when adult). I use M. praecox rainbowfish in the 40Brs with the Pel. humilis and sp. 'blue fin'... not african, but pretty.

I have always wondered if young african butterfly fish would make good dithers.

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Ted, thanks for the suggestions. Killis sound like an idea worthwhile testing! I used to keep butterfly fish for quite a while -- they seemed to scare my cichlids to death. I don't know why, though. The butterflies left the cichlids pretty much alone.

I'll take a look at AB to see what's out there for killis.

Janos

 

[retro_gk]

My dithers of choice have always been danios... the smaller Danio spp. for dwarf cichlids and the larger Devario spp. for larger fish. They stick close to the surface and rarely predate on fry. As a bonus, they are very colorful