Re: Dithers

[Mike & Diane Wise <apistowise@fgn.net>]

David,

Pencilfish are not schooling fish. They tend to be territorial, especially the
males. Still, they work as good dithers. I find that the larger pencils (N.
beckfordi, N. trifasciata, N. harrisoni, and the Copella species) are less shy.
Dithers, unlike target fish, are there to reassure the cichlids by acting
naturally. As long as your dwarf pencils are acting normally, which they are, they
will act as suitable dithers. Schooling species will always be a minor threat to
wandering fry. After all, it is harder for brooding females to drive off schools
than individual fish.

David wrote:

> Howdy all,
> I have a recently setup planted 65 gal with Nannostomus marginatus as the
> dithers and find them very nice but tremendously shy. Though I knew they were
> shy from the start I still thought that they would show nice schooling
> behaviour. Now I'm timid about introducing a trio of viejita into the tank. If
> I can get the pencils to come away from the plants a little more and out into
> the open then i'll feel better about the situation. Though they've only been
> in a week I'm hoping it'll all improve soon. Anyway, what do y'all recommend
> for the nicest dithers that show good schooling behavior and won't pester the
> apistos when the fry are about? Hope to hear y'alls experiences.
>
> david
>
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