Loaches Online Forum

Will White Cloud Mountain Minnows be happy in a tank made for Gastromyzon?

Absolutely. They are one of the best dither fish to put in with hillstream loaches since they love the current.
Other good choices are Danios kyathit, roseus, and choprae to name a few.

Thank you for your reply, but just wondering, what are dither fishes?

dither fish, IMO, are just fish that dont think, they just eat and swim

dithers are usually fish with no 'personality' whereas loches, gouramis, angels, etc.. have personalities...

having dither fish around makes the loaches feel more comfortable, making it seem alright to come out to play!! which is good!

hope that answers your question,
brett.

Thanks for your reply.

brett_fishman wrote:

dithers are usually fish with no 'personality' whereas loches, gouramis, angels, etc.. have personalities...

I can't really agree with that myself. There are many dither fish that add dimension to a tank with their bright colors and active behavior.

i know, i know..but im just saying, dithers (danios for example) dont really have deep personalities like loaches have, they are still nice looking and active, but many dither fish dont really 'have the smarts' to do anything else but survive (dont quote me on that)

-brett.

i like cherry barbs (Barbus titteya) myself.. they have personality and are pretty cute. The male turns cherry red when mating and the lattice scales are cool looking too.

I didn't know danio chopraes like cold fast flowing waters. I have 3 in my 55 gallon tropical.

Your chopraes would absolutely love a hillstream tank. Mine seem to love the current even more than white clouds do.

brett; I agree that dithers don't seem to have the personality of loaches but they sure are pretty.

well..certain dithers are pretty... Gold Barbs..not so much..

-brett.

So a dither can't have personality or are they just fish that will help my loaches feel safe?

well most dither fish dont have a deep personality, and yes, they do make loaches feel safer, and a loach that thinks its safe..plays alot

-brett.

Hi buddythelion,

Dither fish are shoals of upper-level fishes which swim actively out in the open, which signals to your loaches that the coast is clear of predators and it is 'safe' to come out and play. Many popular dither fish choices include species from the barb, danio, rainbowfish, tetra, and rasbora families. They do not lack personality, as brett has suggested. You need to find a species that has the same needs as your loaches, and one that you personally like.
Jim's Danio suggestions are excellent and well worth looking into.

Emma

emma, maybe i have just only had species that didnt have personality...

i've had gold barbs, zebra and leopard danios, harlequin rasboras and neon tetras...but im sure that the larger species are better..

-brett.