Target fish

Target fish - Fish added to an aquarium with aggressive breeding fish. These fish serve as a 'common enemy' upon which the breeding pair can vent their aggression, preventing the pair from attacking each other. Compare Dither Fish.

For starters, pick one of your favorite target fish species and begin to learn everything you can about that fish.

Crom wrote: > > I've heard that some tetras are egg-eaters by nature, thus make poor > dither/target fish for apistos. The only tetra I've heard recommended > as wholly safe is the neon.

The only reason to keep a breeding pair in the company of others is so that they have "target fish" on which to focus their aggression, which can help strengthen the pair bond and increase the motivation to protect the territory and the babies.

If there is a chance of other fish in them, separate them somehow from the target fish and shell (tank divider, holding net, etc). Take the shell(s) with the target fish in them, and place them on top of a PVC pipe standing upward in the aquarium.

This can be overcome by allowing some target fish in your tank which will either create a more safe environment for your cichlids or become the target of their aggression.

In a related development associated with the attempt to mitigate the decline in target fish populations associated with collection for the aquarium trade, ...

Target Fish:
"Target fish" can be used to help strengthen the bond between a fish pair. Target fish can be another of the same species or a similar species that is placed in the tank with the breeding pair.

At the very least a lot of hiding places and maybe a few target fish can be introduced to the pairs' aquarium. The idea is that aggression is taken out on the target fish rather than the female of the pair.

The pair has been the sole residents of the tank for over a year since their first spawning, displaying no signs of incompatibility despite the absence of target fish.

Although danios, barbs and rainbowfish are sometimes suggested as dither fish to draw cichlids from hiding or target fish for reducing aggression among cichlids, we don't recommend that these species be subjected to the aggression of cichlids.

Add just your target fish, and decorate neatly to make an attractive display. Feel free to promote some of your decorative items in the process; this tank should stand out among the rest.

We keep these as dither fish, and they've proven to be especially valuable as target fish as well, since they were often seen scuffling with the Rhamphochromis.

See also: Fish, Water, Species, Fry, Aquarium