The unfortunate (or not) dither fish

[GaryE]

Dither fish are a Cichlid keepers trick. The idea is that if your breeding pairs are fighting, give them an enemy. Add a quick moving surface schooler they'll need to defend their fry against, and harmony will come.

Harmony for the Cichlids - it's all tough on the tetras or barbs you put to work in a dangerous role. I have done this many times, and have had dithers killed when I wasn't attentive enough. I don't consider fish expendable or of no value, and I try hard to keep a close eye and remove them from danger if things get wild. I don';t use dither fish in shallow tanks, for example, where they are vulnerable to attacks from below.

Usually.

I got some Hyphessobrycon margitae this week, and they are in a fully scaped QT tank, 28.5 inches along the front, and 15 deep in both directions. They have been hiding, really skillfully. So I added some Pristella maxillaris, as a healthy, robust fish used to my conditions (they hatched here). The margitae look healthy, but I am taking a risk with the Pristellas doing this.

It took about 3 minutes for the elusive new tetras to start swimming front and centre, where I could confirm that they had no external parasites and looked healthy. I'll keep watching them, and apologize to the Pristellas for sticking them in QT, although their new tank is nicer than the one they had been in. If you have overly shy new shoaling fish, a shoal of confident fish can bring them out. It isn't just a Cichlid keeper's trick.

 

[Back in the fold]

Never have liked the idea of dither fish or feeder fish . I’m like you Gary , I don’t consider fish expendable or of no value . I did some cruel things with fish when I was a kid and all these years later I still feel remorse when I think of those instances . My solution to unwanted interactions between fish is species only aquariums . Fish settle right down when it’s just them . It’s not for everyone but I like them . I understand that you wanted your Tetras to get over their shyness but I think time would have cured that too .

 

[gwand]

Specie only tank? Be careful what species you select. A tank of 2 or more a. cacatuoides can result in a blood bath.

 

[Back in the fold]

Specie only tank? Be careful what species you select. A tank of 2 or more a. cacatuoides can result in a blood bath.

I know that . A guy has to know fish and their temperament . I have twelve Aplocheilus lineatus Golden Wonder Killifish in a twenty and they’re fine . They are nice Killifish for one so common . The males don't fight with each other like Fundulopanchax and Aphyosemion do . My twenty full of Endler’s is a sight to behold with its busy peacefulness . I must confess that this aquarium is not species only . There are Platy’s in there too . Everyone says Platy’s breed abundantly but mine haven’t . I have a stable population of about a dozen . There’s the one big female from my original four I got last December and most of her fry are males . If and when they fizzle out I won’t get any more Platy’s . I like the Endler’s best . It’s fun to look in there and see the great variety of different colored males .
If I was to want a cichlid it would be only a single pair of something peaceful like Rams . They may or may not breed and if they did any pet shop will take the excess .

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Interesting. I always thought of dither fish not as a target, but more like a confidence booster. My red phantom tetras were always out in the open a bit more when I added some lemon tetras to the tank, and serving in that capacity doesn't bother the lemons a bit.

 

[gwand]

I know that . A guy has to know fish and their temperament . I have twelve Aplocheilus lineatus Golden Wonder Killifish in a twenty and they’re fine . They are nice Killifish for one so common . The males don't fight with each other like Fundulopanchax and Aphyosemion do . My twenty full of Endler’s is a sight to behold with its busy peacefulness . I must confess that this aquarium is not species only . There are Platy’s in there too . Everyone says Platy’s breed abundantly but mine haven’t . I have a stable population of about a dozen . There’s the one big female from my original four I got last December and most of her fry are males . If and when they fizzle out I won’t get any more Platy’s . I like the Endler’s best . It’s fun to look in there and see the great variety of different colored males .
If I was to want a cichlid it would be only a single pair of something peaceful like Rams . They may or may not breed and if they did any pet shop will take the excess .

I have a 29 gallon tank with yellow tiger endlers and red coral dwarf Platy. It’s a wonderful tank. Very peaceful and very pretty. Watching that tank eliminates the need for a cocktail.

 

[Back in the fold]

Okay , a question . If we have Dither fish are there also Dagwood fish ?

 

[gwand]

Okay , a question . If we have Dither fish are there also Dagwood fish ?

I can’t answer that question but do you know Mr. Dither’s full name?

 

[Back in the fold]

I can’t answer that question but do you know Mr. Dither’s full name?

Julius Dithers .

 

[gwand]

Julius Dithers .

Julius Caesar Dithers. lol

 

[Back in the fold]

Julius Caesar Dithers. lol

Really ? I did not know that !

 

[gwand]

Did the term dither fish have anything to do with J.C. Dithers? Why are they called dither fish?

 

[GaryE]

"Dither". It's a good question. When I first heard of the technique, they were called "target fish". In how I'm using it - no one gets targeted. They're confidence builders.

"to dither" is to act nervously or indecisively, so as a verb, it isn't a great fit. To be in a dither is to be wound up. That's not ideal either. Maybe there's a regional meaning I haven't heard but that makes more sense to someone who has.

Hmmm.

I like single species tanks, but they aren't for all species. In this case, I am very confident about the fish in QT, but I still want to see them to be sure. I will not use bare QT tanks. Yes, you see the fish, but it's a stressful situation that can bring on problems. All my QTs are planted and fully set up - I just vacate regular tanks for the job, and usually leave the fish in them after. It's easier to medicate, etc in a bare tank, but it's also easier for a fish to stress out in a poor set up. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

 

[AJ356]

Personally, I've never thought of dither fish as there to keep the peace, more to encourage shy cichlids out into the open more.

 

[gwand]

I read that there are two reasons to employ dithers. First, to show the cichlids that there is nothing to fear in the higher levels of the water column. They can come out and play. Second, to be a distraction so that cichlids aggression is directed at the fast swimming dithers and away from conspecifics.