Would Dithers Work?

[Tobigara]

I have a 60 gal with a 5-6" JD, 3-4" Cuban and a 4" syno. The Cuban is a new addition and i really like her but the JD has a pretty nasty history. So far she's kill a FM, an oscar, and a GT. She beat up a salvini so bad i had to return it the next day. all the rest died in minutes even tho they were all at least her size. however as a last ditch effort to give her a tankmate i bought a Cuban and she seems to be ok with it. no real aggression and i'd like to keep it this way.

Would dithers help? and if so what kind?

i was thinking of some larger rainbows like Boesemani but i'm open to suggestions.

thanks in advance

 

[Colin_T]

dithers might help but if the JD is a killer you are probably just going to feed her.

If you have to add new fish to the tank feed her first and then move all the tank decorations around. Then add the new fish. This breaks up the established territories and means the new fish have more chance to settle in. Also if the JD is full she will be less inclined to wanting to eat her new tank mates.

 

[shroob]

Dithers may help, though nothing certain. Giant danio's are often used for dithers, though rainbows may work aswell.

What are the dimensions of the tank? Just that cubans can grow to around 14" max, although they grow slow I just thought I would say.

 

[Tobigara]

dithers might help but if the JD is a killer you are probably just going to feed her.

If you have to add new fish to the tank feed her first and then move all the tank decorations around. Then add the new fish. This breaks up the established territories and means the new fish have more chance to settle in. Also if the JD is full she will be less inclined to wanting to eat her new tank mates.

i've done this everytime i added a new fish. i didn't work with the rest but it seems to have worked this time. i've had the Cuban in there for about 2 weeks and things are going extremely well considering the JD's past. i just want them to keep goining like this for as long as possible.
i'll rearrange the tank again if i add the dithers.

Dithers may help, though nothing certain. Giant danio's are often used for dithers, though rainbows may work aswell.

What are the dimensions of the tank? Just that cubans can grow to around 14" max, although they grow slow I just thought I would say.

it's a cube-ish tank. i'm at work at the moment so i can't measure but i think it's 36x18x25. i just bought a 6' 125 gallon tank. i haven't found a stand or hood for it so it's not set up yet but that's where the Cuban is going once it's done and cycled. Assuming it lives for the next month or 2. that's why i was thinking about adding dithers. i think it would look great in the 125 with 2 sev, 2 ebjds, some rainbows and a royal pleco


so the currant verdict is that dithers might help but it's a very real possibility that it won't help at all? should i even bother with the dithers then?

 

[Colin_T]

I probably wouldn't bother, especially considering you might move them soon anyway.

I would however look at a double tier stand for the 6ft tank, rather than just a normal stand. If you get a double tier stand you can have the 6ft tank on top and a couple of smaller tanks underneath.

 

[Tobigara]

I probably wouldn't bother, especially considering you might move them soon anyway.

I would however look at a double tier stand for the 6ft tank, rather than just a normal stand. If you get a double tier stand you can have the 6ft tank on top and a couple of smaller tanks underneath.

sounds good i'll wait on the rainbows

as much as i would love a double tier stand, there's no way the floor of my 2nd floor apt can support that much extra weight. i can do the 125 but i'd rather not push it any farther i can't wait til i get a house so i can have a fish room in the basement.

i appreciate the advice...thanks