Schooling Fish compatible with CA/SA cichlid?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Wesley M said:
Okay. I'll see what my lfs has that's cheap. I'm thinking of buying a crap load as I think there will be strength in numbers. How big do tiger barbs get?

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The barbs would probably be okay. They can be nippers, but big cichlids don't tend to have a lot of fin in relation to their body size. Most of them won't tolerate being nipped either. You may have to replace a few barbs here and there because they get eaten for being pests. LOL Luckily tiger barbs are cheap fish. They are always deep bodied relative to their length and max out around 3". With the 6" JD in there, I would try and get your barbs as close to 3" as possible so the cichlids don't mistake them for lunch.


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Man I missed the 85 gallon tank part whatever you choose is going to die. Imo you need a lot of space for the dithers to escape and for the chasing fish to call off the pursuit. Buy cheap my friend.

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If you want movement, I have had good success with giant danios. 6 will school nicely and should cost less than $20 total.
I actually prefer my school of danios over most of the cichlids in my tank....

I have however found they don't really do anything to stop aggression between the cichlids. IMO Cichlids bully cichlids over food and territory. A GT and Jack will totally ignore them if they aren't looking to eat them, but will still beat the crap out of each other on a regular basis.

That being said, fish are fish, you never know till you try. Might work.


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Adding dither/target fish t your tank can't hurt. Many people see aggression decline while others see no change. Really it just boils down to the individual personalities of your cichlids.


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Wesley M said:
Okay. I'll see what my lfs has that's cheap. I'm thinking of buying a crap load as I think there will be strength in numbers. How big do tiger barbs get?

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I tried tiger barbs twice. Each night one would get picked off. The same happened with giant danios. Wait till they go on sale for a $1 at either Petsmart or Pet Supplies Plus, if there's even one by you. I do love the way tiger barbs look though.

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Tinfoil barbs and silver dollars are the only ones that last in my central tank. Both are active swimmers, both will school, and both can take a beating. Tinfoils can take over your tank if your fish are passive feeders however, so be mindful of that.


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Anchovie said:
Tinfoil barbs and silver dollars are the only ones that last in my central tank. Both are active swimmers, both will school, and both can take a beating. Tinfoils can take over your tank if your fish are passive feeders however, so be mindful of that.


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I think the only downside to tinfoils and silver dollars is their size and bioload. His 85 is pretty well stocked as it is. Adding a school of fish that will ultimately reach 6" is a good long term plan, but adding a group of either of these fish will decrease the amount of time before an upgrade is needed. If the OP doesn't have any issue with upgrading sooner rather than later, then I agree with either fish. Personally of the two, I like tinfoils better. Especially the red ones.


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Mythic Figment said:
I think the only downside to tinfoils and silver dollars is their size and bioload. His 85 is pretty well stocked as it is. Adding a school of fish that will ultimately reach 6" is a good long term plan, but adding a group of either of these fish will decrease the amount of time before an upgrade is needed. If the OP doesn't have any issue with upgrading sooner rather than later, then I agree with either fish. Personally of the two, I like tinfoils better. Especially the red ones.


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Tinfoils are my go to as well. They are able to grow at a pace that keeps them from being eaten. Sds grow slower, and don't last as long ime


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