Largest tetra for dither

[Thalassa]

Hi,

Wondering what the largest common tetra are that make good dither fish for cichlids. I googled the hell out of this but was unable to get any good data.

 

[Deadeye]

What kinds of cichlids? Might be better to go with silver dollars or tinfoil barbs in this case.
That said, Buenos Aires, Colombian, Congos, and bleeding heart all get pretty big.

 

[celebrist]

Check out astyanax bimaculata if you can find them

 

[Thalassa]

This would be for a green terror and Jack Dempsey in a 150

 

[twentyleagues]

I always like the diamond tetra for a larger bodied tetra. The ones Deadeye said are good choices also. I just like how the diamonds sparkle when they get larger.

 

[duanes]

Astayanax tetras are one of the most common tetras found in nature with JDs.
They grow to about 4", are fast, and as long as your tank is large enough that they don't get cornered, work well.
Below is a shot from a Cenote in Mexico of Astayanax tetras, and Sail fin Mollies, it is also the same habitat where JDs are found.

Below, the JDs hunt young mollies and tetras, but because of the unlimited space, miss 9 times out of 10 (maybe more)

The Astayanax genus is also represented in S America where your Andinoacara come from, but there are also plenty of other genera there west of the Andes.
It all about the size of the tetra, and that you provide a large enough tank, to provide escape room
I use those of the genus Roeboides (Silver Vampire headstander tetras) with my Andinoacara and they have done well. They were caught together in the same river.
Mine have been together approx. 3 years and have been copasetic, although if any tetra gets weak, and flounders, it is quickly taken out and eaten by the Andinoacara

 

[Thalassa]

Thanks for the great info, the Astayanax are pretty cool looking.

 

[Toiletcar]

I keep a. Bimculatus. They or any astyanax are very rare. I’ve only seen bimculatus for sale 2X in the last 20+ years. They push 7” and often the cichlids might be the real dithers. They are scale eaters too so shred even aggressive cichlid fins. They are really hard on each other too. If you have the wrong number in a group, they will fight and even kill one another. Their aggression is what makes them challenging to keep. As for dithers you also want something that is easier to find. IMO Colombian and buenos airies tetras make better dithers. They get a decent size and very attractive. They look similar to the astyanax, but couldn’t be more different. I wish there were CA hyphessobrycon species that are more closely related to the BA tetras. The Mayan tetra (h. Compressus) for example is a beautiful tetra that is little known in the hobby. It’s a shame only SA and African tetras are readily available in the hobby. All very nice fish, just keeping a CA theme bio type is tough. Good luck finding catfish too.

 

[Thalassa]

Thanks. In regards to a cat I currently have a britpenose that hides so well I'm guessing it will be fine.

 

[Toiletcar]

Thanks. In regards to a cat I currently have a britpenose that hides so well I'm guessing it will be fine.

Think you would like BA tetras. They are beautiful and would be big enough. In a tank like that you could do a large school which is nice to watch. I have a 150g too and 8 of them. Think more might be better. The funny thing is they do well w/ the astyanax bimculatus. They get chased but are too fast for the larger tetras. Some pics to show the size difference. One more thing about bimculatus is that they are more widely spread in SA. These only go as far north as Panama I believe. A close up of their teeth.