Freshwater Dither Fish: For Form and Function

Have you heard the phrase “Dither Fish” and wondered what they were? In the simplest terms, they are a group of shoaling freshwater fish that help broadcast to the entire aquarium that things are safe, and as a result give other tank inhabitants a sense of security. They can be utilized to coax shy fish out of hiding both during acclimation and later if the new species is genetically shy.

They are generally small active fish who are calm and peaceful who lend a sense of calm within the aquarium environment to larger shy fish. Shy fish can observe social interactions they have with one another and other tank inhabitants which results in a calming, relaxed atmosphere. In addition to providing this beneficial calm, they can also lend visual appeal to your home aquarium.

A freshwater genus of fish that can benefit from Dither Fish are Cichlids, who may start to exhibit stress by a lessening of color, exhibiting skittishness, and decreasing appetites.

In addition to shy fish, territorial fish can also benefit from having Dither Fish in the aquarium. However, to protect Dither Fish from aggression, the aquarist should also ensure they are providing an aquarium space with adequate hiding places and meeting other needs such as high water quality, feeding appropriately, etc.

As with Dither Fish, groups of Target Fish may be added to an aquarium. The purpose is to equally distribute the aggressiveness that some dominate fish exhibit among its tankmates. However, adding Target Fish to an aquarium is not recommended, is controversial, and may not even be considered ethical, as these Target Fish are intentionally added into an environment where they are knowingly being put under constant stress and attack. A better approach is to ensure that the needs of aggressive fish are being met, such as housing them in an adequately sized aquarium, feeding properly, providing sufficient hiding places, and swimming area. In addition, it is important to check the compatibility among fish with different temperaments and only housing fish that are compatible with each other. The Compatibility Charts that LiveAquaria® provides will help with doing so.

Though far from an exhaustive list, let’s learn more about which some genus of freshwater fish are good candidates for performing the beneficial Dither Fish function.

Tetras
Tetras are active schooling fish that work well in the peaceful community aquarium. It is ideal to house a minimum of six of the same tetra species in the aquarium. Tetras do best in a well-planted aquarium with moderate lighting. Both Neon Tetras and Cardinal Tetras (expert only care) are good candidates for performing the important Dithering Fish function.

Rasboras
Rasboras are small peaceful schooling fish that are well suited for the smaller planted community aquarium. These colorful, hardy fish fare best in groups of six or more. Rasboras like planted community aquariums and display beautiful coloration and unique color patterns. Select a Harlequin Rasbora Group for a striking metallic look to your Dither Fish with its unique color pattern and easy care level.

Danios
Danios are small active schooling fish well suited for the community aquarium. These hardy fish are most often used to cycle a new aquarium, as they are more tolerant of a wide range of water conditions. The Pearl Danio adds to the calming atmosphere of the freshwater aquarium with its iridescent white coloration, and the striped Zebra Danio is sure to provide plenty of viewing appeal.

Livebearers
Freshwater livebearers make good candidates for Dither Fish. Add a group of Guppies or Swordtails that will enhance the aquarium’s appearance as well perform the beneficial calming behavior for shy fish. Others effective Dithering Fish groups include Mollies and Platies.

In an aquarium ecosystem, each species plays a vital role. Dither Fish add appeal to freshwater biotopes with their active swimming nature and produce a calming effect as they move around the aquarium. Keeping them healthy by meeting their aquarium needs, you too can benefit from the tranquility they provide to help coax shy fish out of hiding. There is so much to love about these small groups of fish. Could you and your freshwater inhabitants benefit from a group of Dithering Fish?