What's your favorite dither fish?

Sonny Disposition

Sonny Disposition

Active Member
I'm thinking ahead, figuring out ways to re-do my only show tank around the Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus. Eventually, I'm planning to add a dither fish so the Gymnogeos show themselves more. I have a couple of native minnow species in mind. (They don't mind the cold, a strong point when you unplug the heater for the Gymnogeos.)

I did a quick Web search to see what the experts recommended, and I wasn't impressed. (One site mentioned killies as dithers, which wouldn't work, as most killies species tend to hide all the time. That is, when they're not busy committing suicide by leaping through some tiny opening in the aquarium cover and drying out on the floor while you're at work.)

So I thought I'd take my question to the real experts: you, the actual hobbyists.

So what's your favorite dither fish for cichlids?
 
L

ltrepeter2000

Members
Endlers, they reproduce enough to survive being food as well as dither, and they add color while doing it. Very active little fish.
 
lonlangione

lonlangione

Members
I use paradise fish. They tend to stay at the top and they are very resiliant to being picked on by cichlids.

Lonny
 
Jumbie

Jumbie

Members
I think Danios are great as dithers and you could get them in some many different colors. Bob you might want try the HOT PINK, Highlighter Yellow, and Hot Orange....LOL:pound:
 
cmcpart0422

cmcpart0422

Members
I have some goodeids in my vic tank and they do the trick. Not the most pretty fish but active and they have babies which my cichlids like to eat.

Some larger tetras are good. Congo tetras get nice and colorful and are on the lager side of 2-3 inches. I have never kept them specifically but I have kept blood fins with my demasoni and they did fine, until they got to close to my powerhead.
 
dogofwar

dogofwar

CCA Members
bloodfins would work well...and cold tolerant.

Red tail goodeids (Xenoteca eisenii) are another cold tolerant, relatively colorful option (blue with red tail). Andrew has some at SCALES for less than $2 each...

Matt
 
L

ltrepeter2000

Members
Bob,

I have some red tails if you want them, you could get them at the May meeting of GWAPA since its at my house. Not sure if this was a hypothetical topic or if you are actively looking for a pairing with the Geos.

Thanks
Rob
 
Sonny Disposition

Sonny Disposition

Active Member
Blood fins might work. I'd hesitate to try the goodeids, though. You need to heat the Gymnogeos up to get them to spawn, right? I believe getting goodeids to warm makes them sterile.
 
Sonny Disposition

Sonny Disposition

Active Member
Thanks, Rob. I'm looking, but not yet actively at this point. It will be a couple of months before I actually get around to re-doing that tank (again), so I wanted to do the research ahead of time to try to get it right. So yes, this conversation is more on the theoretical side at this point.

ltrepeter2000 said:
Bob,

I have some red tails if you want them, you could get them at the May meeting of GWAPA since its at my house. Not sure if this was a hypothetical topic or if you are actively looking for a pairing with the Geos.

Thanks
Rob
Click to expand...
 
dogofwar

dogofwar

CCA Members
The gymnos will spawn when it warms up in the spring/summer .... even without a heater. It's more the change in temps from 50/60's to 70's that triggers them.

I've kept and bred all sorts of goodeids (everything from Ameca to Chaplicthys to Ilyodon to Xenoteca to Zoogenectens :) ) in standard fish tank temps (mid to upper 70s).

Xenoteca are comfortable at lower temps than a lot of goodeids. I've read down to upper 40's...but never kept them cooler than about 68...





Sonny Disposition said:
Blood fins might work. I'd hesitate to try the goodeids, though. You need to heat the Gymnogeos up to get them to spawn, right? I believe getting goodeids to warm makes them sterile.
Click to expand...
 
Sonny Disposition

Sonny Disposition

Active Member
OK. I have the temperature for the gymnogeos at 80 degrees now. Is that too warm? Without the heater, the tank would probably be right around 70. My basement is always cool.

dogofwar said:
The gymnos will spawn when it warms up in the spring/summer .... even without a heater. It's more the change in temps from 50/60's to 70's that triggers them.

I've kept and bred all sorts of goodeids (everything from Ameca to Chaplicthys to Ilyodon to Xenoteca to Zoogenectens :) ) in standard fish tank temps (mid to upper 70s).

Xenoteca are comfortable at lower temps than a lot of goodeids. I've read down to upper 40's...but never kept them cooler than about 68...
Click to expand...
 
dogofwar

dogofwar

CCA Members
I don't have heaters on most of my Gymno (or goodeid) tanks...but heat the room to about 73-74 degrees. They'd be just as happy or happier with no heater or heater set at low 70s as 80...

Matt
 
C

Cartel

Members
I was actually about to ask the same question about dithers. So good thread! Iv tried danios (of course I just have reg cichlid's not gymno's) but they only make it a couple of days before they disappear. I assume from becoming snacks as I never find them.

Now I have some other fish to try thanks!
 
George

George

CCA Charter Member and person in charge of the we
I'm not a fanatic about it but I like to use fish that come from the same environment. I do not mean similar but the same.

You have a lot of good choices that have been offered already though. I think Danios and rainbows are the most bullet proof. It is hard to kill any of them if the water is clean and not frozen:lol:.

George
 
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