Dither Fish For Keyholes

[MermaidMel]

I have got 5 keyhole cichlids today and am in love, wanted them for ages and managed to find good sized ones today not tiny babies I usually see

I want some dither fish bearing in mind its a 50 gallon tank and has some cories and a L134 in it also, I can't have big fish like rainbows, what would recommend? Something that will be peaceful for them and not harrass them, with a bit of colour and personality. Thanks in advance!

 

[minxfishy]

Rosy barbs? Or if you want to keep the black/white theme, black phantom tetras?

 

[Nick16]

i have harlequins and gold barbs.

however, keyholes do get quite vicious when provoked, mine harrashed a young platy to death and then started to eat the poor thing. i removed it before that happened. im guessing it was just young and strayed into the worng area of the tank at the wrong time.

 

[MermaidMel]

Good answers as I was thinking of either harlequins or white or black widows. Or maybe a bit of both? I have read a 'couple of shoals' of dither fish can be suitable, I guess that meant 2 different types of fish?

Just was worried harlequins would be too small. Though watching my new friends, they are so tame and frightened, though I'm guessing it may not be long before they become settled, so need to add the dithers a.s.a.p. I think

 

[Nick16]

my keyholes are fine with my harlequins. i wouldnt keep them with anything too slow moving or with large fins.

 

[MermaidMel]

Thanks Nick

hey Mags hope you're well thanks for your reply, I noticed you changed your stocking again, you are just like me can't make our minds up lol, but I am over the moon with my new fish, renewed enthusiasm for sure, hope you have too x

 

[minxfishy]

Im fine thanks hon, yeah had a change around for sure, definately got me back into the swing of things again. The keyholes should settle down soon enough x

 

[MermaidMel]

Im fine thanks hon, yeah had a change around for sure, definately got me back into the swing of things again. The keyholes should settle down soon enough x

Glad you're getting it back, it's hard isn't it, I think bigger fish have more personality and somehow seem more like pets, I am getting that feeling about mine already

Still got my other tank with all my congos and neons, which seems less like pets and more like something to look at, if that makes sense, but really happy with both tanks now

I am going to get stupid amounts of branchy wood and make a cavern for them, so they can hide but I can see them through the branches, will get pics when they settle x

 

[MermaidMel]

Would silver tip tetras work?

 

[minxfishy]

Yep they should be fine, Ive never kept them, but like most tetras providing they are in a large enough group (and you have plenty of room ) they shouldnt be nippy.

 

[ALW]

Would silver tip tetras work?

Yep, but they do like to nip!

 

[Wills]

When I had keyholes they were very inactive and hid a lot till I got dithers. I think I went with leopard danio and had a big school of 15 but the danio killed each other till there were only 3 left But it did have a good effect on the keyholes brought both the male and female out through the day

 

[MermaidMel]

Danios are mentalists, don't fancy them really though they are stunning fish

Perhaps harlequins as they are peaceful and hardy and beautiful

Or maybe gold tetra?

 

[Wills]

Pencil fish would work well I think, more of a top dweller which would show the "coast is clear" for the keyholes. With keyholes your after fish to make them feel comfortable not for them to target their aggression at. And if there are fish in the upper levels it will tell them it is safe (I think)

 

[Nick16]

they really arent shy fish, mine took about 3-4 days and then they are out and have been out all the time ever since. even being put into an unfamiliar tank they have been fine. If you are keeping them with slightly smaller fish like harlequins they are fine and arent shy at all.