Dither fish that are safe for Apistogramma fries

[Simon]

please guys, let's not go overboard and go out of topic. If you guys have any personal views on anything, please talk it about nicely or PM each other.

[benetay]

I have to support Celticfish's reply, thanks Irwin for it!

I'm going for the 'no dither' concept. I used to think that dither do help but after awhile it make no sense in keeping them. They do not contribute to the success of spawn. I will rather have a chiller or do water change to induce spawning.

I've not seen dithers contributing fairly in the spawning cycle. Netting out the male will do the job. So till now i've not got sufficient reasons for myself to add dithers into a breeding tank.

I'm still thinking, a large enough tank 4ft or more got ample space for 1 pair of apisto to play hide & seek so i don't even need dithers to reduce conflict.

Well bottom line will be what do you want for yourself, a breeding tank,a planted tank, a mixed tank? When i had my 6 footer it houses only 4 pieces of apisto of one species. If one is serious about breeding, why not use artificial hatching method? It could yield better results then to leave them to the parents. Save the extra money from dithers for a better sponge filter. Sponge filters are expensive investment, so get the best you can afford. Easily 2-3 sponge filter can set you back $100+

There is no concrete proof of dithers to be good or bad, it happens to come as a topic when they are talking about the natural habitat of apisto where tetras are found. So till now dithers or no dithers doesn't make apisto spawn more. I believe for those who are going to be very critical on their apisto, try artificial hatching method. It's by far the most tedious of the lot raising fries.It can also turn the table of zero fries to some fries.

Having a higher tank e.g. 2.5ft with pencil fish as dither doesn't even make them dither since they occupy the top range whereas apisto occupy the bottom. I've kept them together before but that was when my main objective isn't to spawn.

I see no reason for further comments regarding dithers when Thread Starter hasn't give a concrete objective of what he wants.

anyway... i acctually feel that without dithers tank abit empty.. haha..

Instead of arguing on dithers, we should look at the issue on hand. Feeling that tank is empty & thus adding dither.

just added 8 ember tetra as dithers.. i guess they are fries-safe?

Another case of compulsive addition. So lets not go around on dithers but how & why dithers are needed or discourage.

So now with 1 pair of A.tri, he should be looking at how to induce them to spawn. Yes my fastest recording timing for A.tri spawn is 5 minutes after introduction of the male to the female after conditioning.

We can only replicate nature but we are never near it.


Good luck!

Cheers!