Target fish
- Thread starter livewyr25
- Start date
It is meant to describe that they become the target of the aggression for the fish. Rather than the cichlids taking their aggression out on each other, you add dithers, usually quick and inexpensive fish, for the more aggressive fish to target. They are also called dither fish.
Danios are the most often used, they are very quick and cheap fish so if they end up being snacks its ok. Depending on the cichlids it depends on the danio species. Larger cichlids (Oscars, JDs, GTs, Jaguars, Midas) I'd go with giant danios, for smaller ones like Severums and such sized fish, go with regular zebra danios.
A target fish is something that an aggrssive (a large cichlid for eg) fish can harrass instead of its mate or another tankmate(like another cichlid).Targets are usually large fast and hardy fish like tinfoil barbs.
Dither fish are quite the opposite, these are usually small outgoing shoaling fish(like tetras or rasboras).The function of the dither fish is to make a shy fish (discus for eg) feel more comfortable as the presence of shoals of fish in the wild usually means there are no predators around.
Dither fish are quite the opposite, these are usually small outgoing shoaling fish(like tetras or rasboras).The function of the dither fish is to make a shy fish (discus for eg) feel more comfortable as the presence of shoals of fish in the wild usually means there are no predators around.
The term can mean either thing, dithers have two purposes, to bring out shy fish because they are unafraid and showing there is nothing to hide from, or as I am using it in this meaning, to disperse aggression away from the tank's main inhabitants.
I'm done arguing with you Haggis. That is one opinion you have about the word from one source, period. The word can have either meaning, if you choose to be so picky about the meaning then fine be that way, but simply put dither's can serve either purpose. You saying it can't is false information because many people, not just myself, commonly accept it to mean both things. If you want to get right down to it, the word Dither means to act erratically, or nervously. Target fish do this to attract the attention of the predatory aggressive fish in the tank, and also if they act in the same manner, they can encourage shy fish to come out from hiding because of their fearless behavior. Thus the word Dither fish can be suited just fine to either type of use they are used for.