Dither Fish

[StephenMidTN]

Hi All,

I'm wondering what the most popular dither fish among dwarf cichlid breeders is. I keep and breed Blue Rams (Mikrogeogaphus ramirezi) and Columbian Rams (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus).

Over the years I have used various small tetras and Cherry Barbs (Puntius titteya) as dither fish. Lately I have been using Dwarf Pencilfish (Nannostomus marginatus). What are others using?

[EC]

What are others using?

Nannostomus marginatus too.

Ciao Enrico

[Lab]

Hatchet fish (a few different species), other pencilfish (Nannostomus spp., Nannobrycon eques etc.), wild type guppys work nicely too. Something like the newly described galaxy rasbora (Celestichthys margaritatus) would probably work out fine.
You could also use tetra species, but they tend to very effective fry predators.

Lars

[StephenMidTN]

Hi Lars!

You could also use tetra species, but they tend to very effective fry predators.

Exactly. That's why I eventually gave up on them as good dither fish, although I did manage to raise a number of spawinings of Apistogramma aggassizi many years ago with 10 Glowlight Tetras (Hemigrammus erythrozonus ) as dither fish.

[fishboykaps]

I haven't breed dwarfs in a while but i use to use Feeder guppies/ fancy guppies

[pk333]

My personal favourite, marbled hatchetfish.

[Lisachromis]

Nice choice.

[Nuchal Man]

Some of the mild mannered goodeids have worked well for me in the past with Apistos like the blue tail goodeid, Ataeniobius toweri. Also used livebearers like guppies and mosquitofish. For my Shelldwellers, I used mollies and It's worked fine.

I also like to use some Danio and Rainbow types. I have also used young Rosy barbs in the past.

Recently I left some inch long Pelmatichromis nigrofasciatus in a tank that I put my M. ramerizi in and they actually worked well, even though it was an accident. They bred, and it helped the pair bond. I think a lot of things can work and sometimes we just go with the classic dithers.

[Hassles]

I have successfully used Golden Pencilfish in a few Apisto tanks and found that Black Neons worked a treat when breeding A.gibbiceps. These neons still reside with the gibbiceps!! I have also employed Spotted Blue-Eye (Pseudomugil Gertrudae) and Honey Blue-Eye (Pseudomugil Mellis) although I have a distinct preference for the nonostomus varients although beckfordi is best avoided as advised by those who have experienced them.

[dwarfpike]

Harelquin rasboras and the three various phantom tetra species.

[Robo]

I am setting up a tank to breed Rams and maybe Apistos for the first time. I was planning on using serpae tetras as dither fish, but am somewhat concerned at the description of tetras as "efficient fry predators". Has anyone used serpaes, or have any thoughts on whether they would be good dither fish? Also, I have had a pleco in the tank cleaning up algae, but I suppose he needs to go before the breeding (hopefully) begins? Thanks for your help.

[Lisachromis]

Serpaes would be a bad choice in my opinion. They are fast little hunters (ever see these guys at feeding time? ). Pencilfish would probably work a little better for you. And yes, the pleco would most likely have to go as well. The pleco would eat the eggs at night.

[Microman]

The vast majority of Pencilfishes work very well but there are reports of N beckfordi predating upon Apistogramma fry. The very small tetra species Axelrodia reisei and Axelrodia stigmatias both also work very well indeed....
Mark....

[pk333]

I have found that N. beckfordi are very effective fry predators. I have had them in tanks with both L. curviceps and L. dorsigera, and they picked off any stray fry, and the older the fry, the harder it is for the parents to keep them together.

[Robo]

Well, no pencilfish readily available, so I am going to try white clouds. The tank temp (81F) might be a little warm for them, but they seem to be doing well so far. No fry yet, but they are not bothering the apistos.

[MJDean]

I keep my Rams in a 50 gallon tank with a school of Green Neon and Cardinal Tetras. I also have a few small Red Line Pencil fish.