I saw some really beautiful green terrors at lfs yesterday. They didn't look lots like the one in the profile here....had black swirly patterns???? In doing research, I've heard people often put target fish in with cichlids to tone down agression. What's everyones take on this? What other fish can survive as tankmates?
Target Fish
- Thread starter confusedfishy
- Start date
The appropriate term I believe is "Dithering" fish, a German concept of placing peaceful, "prey" species in a tank with juvenils of more aggressive fish (such as SA cichlids) in order to bring them out into the open. Bala sharks, tinfoil barbs, and giant danio are examples of good "dithering" species. The dither fish should be slightly larger, a swift swimmer, and non-aggressive compared to tankmates. My favorite are Buno Aries tetras because their red or yellow colors brighten up a tank as well as they seem to be more attractive with Oscars.
Dithering fish do help tone down aggression by giving their territorial tankmates something to chase around instead of beating up on each other. But if your SA cichlids are being grouchy and beating the crap out of each other, it is most likely because you have them way too crowded in your tank in the first place.
~~Colesea
Dithering fish do help tone down aggression by giving their territorial tankmates something to chase around instead of beating up on each other. But if your SA cichlids are being grouchy and beating the crap out of each other, it is most likely because you have them way too crowded in your tank in the first place.
~~Colesea
I thought dither fish are used mostly with small SA dwarfs, like apistos and rams. In that case, balas and tinfoil barbs are a bad idea. The dither are used to make them less shy by creating a false sense of security - dumb fish swim out in open, they get eaten first while we have a chance to hide. Also, it helps create the sense of a breeding territory to help form pair bonds and start harem spawning. With the dwarfs, you want smaller, quicker, and not nervous fish. Harlequin rasboras, Cardinal tetras, neon tetras, pencilfish and kilifish are all fairly good choices. Danios, large tetras, and pretty much anything bigger than your dwarfs are a bad idea. It also helps to divert the male's killing tendencies towards something else and not your prized female.
Green Terrors can get pretty big and I was wondering, confusedfishy that I am, how many I should get for a 55 gal. The bala shark sounds cool, but don't they get large also? Just wanted to get some ideas? Can any other ciclids hang with them? I've heard Jack Dempsey and Convicts????
well, I think green terrors get to be huge and they certainetly live up to their name. There is a little schpeel about them in the Sept 2002 issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist and it describes a bit about their care. Jack Dempseys might be okay with them, but I think once the GTs got big, they might eat the convicts... In a 55 you could keep a few, maybe 4 adults.
I was thinkin of 1 male 2 females. Try to look for mag. Couldnt find a web site. My ph is off the chart. It's more blue than the highest (7.6) out of tap or out of tank. Is this ok for them or should I rethink my cichlid? Don't Africans like higher ph? so confused