Tiger Barbs as dither fish for Cichlids

[LongTime]

Originally posted by blueturq
i dunno if you should risk it longtime.

you have:

1 pair of convicts
2 JD
1 Texas Cichlid
2 pictus cats
2 bristenosed plecos

Seeing as how Tinfoil barbs are much larger, i highly doubt that tiger barbs(much smaller) can fend for themselves against brawlers like your texas, or your JD's, or ESPECIALLY your pair of cons!

Yeah, I know, but did you ever have those days when you wanted someone to tell you what you wanted to hear instead of the truth?

Hopefully I'll be able to find some giant danios or something. These tinfoils are eating me out of house and home!

 

[Somonas]

I think a school of tiger barbs would be very nice in a cichlid tank but personally I prefer giant danios. they are flashy, swim fast and are quite nice in a school.

 

[dbacksrat]

i think tiger barbs would have a hell of time because the tables would be turned on them, for once

 

[TaffyFish]

This has been a very entertaining thread to follow with all the wrong answers, recoveries and all.....but can someone please explain to me why mbuna require dithering in the first place? I always thought mbuna were a pretty robust flock. tia

 

[dbacksrat]

ouch that hurt taffy fish --but thats a good question

 

[Somonas]

taffys right. mbuna are self dithering by definition.
however.
if you happen to have a particularly shy species, dithers help to make them feel more calm and relaxed.
and.
secondly.
if you ever go diving in the lake you'll see huge schools of shiners and lake minnows swimming by and the giant danios do a good job of mimicing this

 

[ridgewalker]

I think I will use Tiger barbs for cycling the new tank I am setting up for mbuna. I have kept Tigers for a couple of years in a tank full of other barbs, tetras and Kribs and they have all got along well, nipping at each other without casualties.

If the going gets tough in the mbuna tank I still have room to transfer them in with my other Tigers.

 

[TaffyFish]

Are they easy to catch then? Probably easier than danios....;-) If not it might be worth cycling your tank before you've completed the rockwork/decor.