dither fish?

**Northerly** · 04-15-2012, 01:39 PM

can dither be fish be used for mbunas? ive heard of giant danios and synodontis catfish. but im pretty sure a few synos would be wayyyyyy too much for my 55. would giant danios be effective or would they just die after a month?

**sheamurai** · 04-15-2012, 01:45 PM

Mbunas aren't exactly shy, I can't see why they'd need dithers. I think people just like to stock other fish for variety and bottom clean up. So I doubt the "effectiveness" of any dithers.

Mbunas will kill anything that can't hide or swim fast enough.

My peacocks are the least aggressive of Africans, and I am not able to keep any plecs or catfish with them.

**Northerly** · 04-15-2012, 02:09 PM

so theres no point in having a dither fish? and at what size should i take my pleco out? my tanks 55 gallons and hes 4.5 inches. the mbunas are still pretty small too.

**Mbuna** · 04-15-2012, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Northerly

can dither be fish be used for mbunas? ive heard of giant danios and synodontis catfish. but im pretty sure a few synos would be wayyyyyy too much for my 55. would giant danios be effective or would they just die after a month?

Mbuna will be shy if there are not a lot of fish in the tank. You can slightly over stock and that will help if you have enough filtrations. Another way to help is to have a little group of haps or Peacocks as dither fish. Some folk don't like mixing them but I do and there a great help as dither fish.

**escamosa** · 04-16-2012, 07:49 AM

Upside down catfish (Synodontis nigriventris) are great to have in a mbuna tank. I have two of them in with mine, and I have had no trouble. Quite often they feed side by side. I'm thinking of adding three more actually!

I would of added more a long time ago, if I could of got more. They actually school quite nicely, if you have a group of them.

**190MPH** · 04-16-2012, 01:33 PM

Synodontis Multipunctatus are great with mbuna. Their spiny dorsals are enough deterrent to keep mbuna away. I've had 1/4" Multie fry swim under their noses and they ignored them. If you're really lucky like me, they may even use your mbuna as hosts if they spawn. Get at least a group of 5 to keep them happy and active!

**Northerly** · 04-22-2012, 05:37 PM

hmmm. i do have 1 yellow peacock in with them now, i could either bump that up to a group of 4 or exclude him and throw in a few jaguar cats or upside down cats. i have jaguar cats in my 75 so ill probably lean toward the upside down cats. thank you guys:)

**DeadSulphurhead** · 04-26-2012, 03:35 PM

If you go with upside down Synos, make sure you get a more than 4. They will be a lot healthier and more active the larger the group. Like most loaches, they tend to rest together tightly, in a cave or hide out. Every so often, one will be injured, sometimes too late for me to QT.

As for dither fish, not generally a good idea with cichlids unless you have a very large tank with lots of escape room. The best dither is more africans