How does this sound for dithers?

[Nelson]

My sincere compliments on your outstanding photographs posted on your web site.  I would like to see more photographs of your tank and fish.

[ambushman2j]

you might try an open water fish if you really want something to enhabit the top of the tank..the only consern is would the rock dwellers beat it up..you would have to get them larger then the rock dwellers, but not large enough that the rock dwellers would be eaten either

[slickshooter]

Thank you for the kind words about my photos.....I currently don't have anymore pics of my tank but will be putting my digicam to work this week.

WAYNEBRUNET.FOTOPIC.NET

[artw]

giant danios work well for the upper portion of a tank.

[fishycanuck]

Can someone please explain to the new kid what a "dither fish" is?
Fishy

[ambushman2j]

usually smaller faster fish which keep the bigger fish from attacking each other, they will unsuccessfully chase the "dither fish" around the tank, therefore not chasing each other

[gvv]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when I first read about dither fish I thought that this fish is not for attack or chasing. I understood that this type of fish is needed for the cichlids to stop hiding as they can see that somebody freely swimming in the tank and nothing terrible is happening to them.
I'm not sure that my rainbows will survive if mbunas will really begin chasing/hunting them...

[ambushman2j]

personally that is why I do not use any type of dither fish, I go by the method of having an overstocked cichlid tank to disuade hiding cichlids .. in most instances if your cichlids are attacking each other, why wouldn't they attack a foreign fish?

[luvfishies]

"Target fish" are used basically as a target to distract aggressive fish, while "dither" fish are usually a shoaling fish. The "dithers" reassure the "main" fish that things are safe, so the "main" fish will be out and about.

If the "dithers" scurry for cover, the "main" fish will, also.

[artw]

yeah thats what dithers are for.
if you use ambushmans definition of dither then a fully stocked cichlid tank is "self dithering"

[Sue]

I don't think you'd want to mix tropheus with the mbuna type malawi cichlids you have now.  Troheus are too sensitive to bloat, which they could catch from the mbuna. Bemba orange and Ikola aren't locally available, (as far as I know) you would have to order them either through a LFS, or web business like the CRLCA.   You also wouldn't want to mix bemba's with Ikola as they would most likely hybridize.  

I've had red tail sharks in mixed african tanks in the past and it seemed to go well.  The sharks are going to be more aggressive than your labs though. YoYo loaches also make a fun addition.

[slickshooter]

Thank you all for your replies.If anyone will be selling any of the Cichlids, Danios or Red Tailed Black Sharks mentioned in this thread please drop me a line.
I'm easy to deal with....... and hey I tip well just ask Drew

WAYNEBRUNET.FOTOPIC.NET

[ambushman2j]

lol yeah 33% is a good tip

[slickshooter]

Not that this was a great idea it was out of nessesity (issues in another tank)but I had to put 2 Gouramis in my cichlid tank.To my surprise they have all gotten along and seem to have acted as a safety feature and brought my Cichlids out more.....Now do I take the chance and add more?The Gouramis are the variety with redish backends and blue-grey fronts.Dwarfs I believe.

[ambushman2j]

sometimes people are successful with odd combinations and this leads them to beleive they will always be successful, the problem is that one day when the true natures of each fish comes out, it will be like a bomb was dropped on the tank and you will have many dead fish, especially around breeding time, so I would proceed with caution