your opinion on dither

[aquabee]

Hey all! Just wanted to see what your personal opinions/experiences are with dithers for shellies. I'm starting up a first time shellies tank, 20 long. From what I've read on many many different forums, people have successfully used white clouds and danios for dither with shellies, and it really has a great effect on bringing them out into the open and sometimes also decreasing aggression. Thoughts? I want to use a fish that will acclimate to the higher pH (8.3), so I feel like barbs and tetras and rasboras are out. And there's no way I'm doing platies and mollies for this particular tank, even though they seem to like alkaline water.

Ideas? Would really appreciate the input.

Thanks!

[SunnyHouTX]

Dither does work, but I like to use tanganyikan species as dither. That might be harder to do in a 20 gal with the shellies.

[TaTeR ToT]

Tetras and rasboras are fine, just keep the parameters in check, stability is more important then ideal Ph.

[wesleydnunder]

I'd try leopard danios or the white clouds.

Mark

[aquabee]

Sunny-- come on now. You know I'd do cyps or paracyps if I had a longer tank, but it's just not happening in a little 20.

Tater-- I love harlequins but more than anything, I can't stand seeing fish who look faded because they're not meant to be kept in a certain pH. I know most fish around here are bred and kept in 7.8 water but didn't know if 8.3 was going to be a stretch.

Mark-- was trying to avoid those but I think I'll go with white clouds, if I have to. :)

[dougiefresh]

Danio choprai (Glowlight Danio) if you can find them.

[josephavela]

Plz! Excuse my ignorance but don't understand the phrase "dither". Can somebody explain this to me.
Thx! Joseph

[aquabee]

Plz! Excuse my ignorance but don't understand the phrase "dither". Can somebody explain this to me.
Thx! Joseph

Hey Joseph. A dither fish is usually a smaller, active fish that can help to draw your more shy fish out of their hiding places. The shy fish feel more comfortable having other fish that are out and about and swimming around. Sometimes they can also help spread aggression in that they're fast enough to dodge the aggressors but don't actually fight back and cause more problems.

[josephavela]

Thanks! aquabee sounds pretty understandable makes sence. In your opinion what would you consider good dither fish? I have a 55g Shellie tank and the only really active fish I have is a brichardi.

[aquabee]

Thanks! aquabee sounds pretty understandable makes sence. In your opinion what would you consider good dither fish? I have a 55g Shellie tank and the only really active fish I have is a brichardi.

You have a lot of upper water column room with a 55 gallon. Have you looked into cyprichromis or paracyprichromis? Those are so brilliant with all their colors and fun to watch.