Top 5 Schooling Fish to Help Shy or Aggressive Fish

🌱 Visit aquariumcoop.com/ to buy aquarium plants, lights, fish food, and more from Aquarium Co-Op
🐟 Buy fish at geni.us/LiveFish from our preferred online retailers with the code aquariumcoop to save 5%
‎ Help your shy fish stop hiding and aggressive fish from fighting with these top 5 dither fish.
🔔 Subscribe so you won't miss our next video: kzbin.info...
🛒 Buy fish at geni.us/LiveFish from our preferred online retailers with the code aquariumcoop to save 5%. (As an affiliate of these retailers, we earn a commission when you use our code or affiliate links.)
🥇 Join this channel to get access to perks: / @aquariumcoop
🐟 Want more? Hop over to our second channel for bonus videos: / aquariumcoop2
🌱 Buy plants, lights, food, chemicals and more from our online store: aquariumcoop.com/
📕 Want in-depth articles on freshwater aquariums? Visit our blog: aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium
💬 Searching for that respectful community to talk about fish? Join our forum: forum.aquariumcoop.com/
WHO WE ARE
------------------------------------------------
At Aquarium Co-Op, we focus on your aquariums. We specialize in freshwater tropical fish, aquatic plants, and the overall betterment of the freshwater fish keeping hobby. Our goal is to help you with your first pet fish and graduate you to an advanced aquarium hobbyist. If you'd like to take it to the next level, subscribe to Aquarium Co-Op and check out our weekly videos.
Cory McElroy is employed by Aquarium Co-Op LLC. He also owns Aquarium Co-Op LLC. Therefore, all content is sponsored by Aquarium Co-Op.
0:00 What are dither fish?
0:49 Livebearers
2:34 Tetras and rasboras
3:54 What kind of fish need dither fish?
4:37 Corydoras
5:30 Danios
6:51 Hatchetfish and pencilfish
#Aquariumcoop #Aquariumfish #Fishtank

[@AquariumCoop]

Buy fish at geni.us/LiveFish from our preferred online retailers with the code _aquariumcoop_ to save 5%. (As an affiliate member, we earn a commission from this link.)

[@larrykrebs8262]

Love this, keep it coming

[@foxfamily2896]

Thanks so much for doing the giveaways!

[@shrimpboi4718]

I’m starting a 27 Gallon mini outdoor pond and I have a spare air pump rated for 10-15 gallons I was wondering if I could use it? Also I saw that my tote was bending a little from the weight of the water, should I worry or do I just leave it?

[@rickmeacham513]

Cool video

[@rickmeacham513]

I have a 300 gallon IBC tote want to start a pond outside the spring would love to see a video about that

[@youraveragefishkeeper]

Watching this with my daughter. My daughter: HOW IS HE IN THE FISH TANK?

[@randomnesschannel8820]

😹

[@minajqueen2139]

😭😂😂

[@jackievarughese3945]

🤣🤣

[@halcyon3116]

lol cute!~ cuz hes a Dither of course :D

[@kawaiipurplesaphire6163]

💀😂💀😂

[@joshuagidcumb6805]

"I'm just a little guppy" "I SAID GET OUTTA HERE!!"

[@t.a.ackerman4098]

Bring it down from defcon 5 🤣

[@NEIADFVP]

I mean guppies they are like mini piranhas when u feed them hahaha

[@vblogger22]

I’ll say this was enlightening. One small request, please display names on the screen as and when you speak of any fish. This will be helpful for those like me who don’t have very sharp ears at age of 66

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

I turn on the cc for this very reason!!!! Trying to confirm by watching people's mouths on KZbin is not helpful 😅

[@kpov2533]

You can always turned on closed captions

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

@@kpov2533 are cc available for the video? Because mine are not working.

[@vblogger22]

@@kpov2533 you surely "care" for your viewers. Thank You.

[@kpov2533]

@@vblogger22 I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or what I was just saying it's an option

[@tarronadam5435]

I love the way you explain yourself and the fish and their personalities and how those personalities affect the other fish so much. I'm not talking about just this video but all of them.

[@KGcichlids]

Cory is my dither, he got me out here making comments and such.

[@wobblysauce]

Is it safe to comment yet?

[@mrfish.-]

“I got likes in the cave”

[@Tool970]

Me and the boys no longer wall riding because Cory is dithering

[@legendoftheblack]

I just want to say, I've had a ton of nano aquarium set ups with all sorts of rasboras and tetras, but none school better and more in the open than emerald eye rasbora. I'm not an expert, but they are a GREAT fish that don't get that much love. They've been hardy and are subtly super pretty. Just wanted to give my fish some love!

[@patcheslove55]

I have neno blue rasboras and that’s how I feel too, amazing fish.

[@salon831pm]

I have gold headed purple rasboras and they are always together. Very lovely fish!

[@mynorturey]

Just added gouramis to my tank and they were really shy. I added 7 neons and that really made a difference. Thanks for the video!

[@sabrinawarner342]

Really love watching your videos. I’m a nursing student (graduate in May) and my coping mechanism with all the crazy going on right now is taking care of my 8 planted aquariums. You channel has provided me so much education on fish and plants. Thank you!

[@robertw6348]

Love you guys. Fish keeping has really helped me with my depression and everything. Got back into the hobby because of Aquarium Co-Ops videos

[@tyhannahibbert6909]

I love how everytime I watch an aquariumcoop video my paycheck disappears 😂. This video is very timely though. I just bought a few guppies for my 40 breeder and now my dwarf gourami isn’t hiding out in the vallisneria as much 🙌🏾

[@kristyw8180]

Right! I just blew $123 today on a school of cardinals, another pair of dwarf gourami and more plants 😂 and discovered my other tank is down to 1 oto so.. back I go!

[@jaeweaver2906]

Seems your doing something right. 👍🏾

[@mjm7031]

I used to have just a few ember tetras in a community tank, and they generally hid out behind plants. I’ve just recently added embers to a new tank, but this time as a larger group, along with a larger group of cardinal tetras, and the embers are out all the time now. Thanks for your videos - I learn so much from you.

[@kehlyrath2040]

Thanks for the great ideas. I am getting ready to get my first bigger tank of 50/55 gallon and am making plans. Getting dither fish is definitely on my list

[@griffenspincken9735]

Found that after adding a school of cories I was able to see my otos a lot more.

[@TheReddsock]

I had the same experience in my 10 gallon after adding panda corys. Its great to see them all hanging out in the open now 😄

[@MartijnBelleflame]

I had exactly the same experience, my otos are a lot more active and I see them more often

[@Ceiora]

This was literally the exact topic I was thinking about last night, just never knew there was an actual term for it

[@lishar2573]

This was very helpful! I love the way you’re doing the backgrounds now, it’s so much easier to see the fish you’re talking about up close like that

[@imaebi8772]

Agreed! Guppies are amazing dither fish. Totally clueless to any aggression in the tank. ‘Derpy’ really is a perfect description for them.

[@robertjohnston25]

The hard part is getting a dither dish that doesn’t eat all the food before your shy fish come out :/

[@fishandfloral]

You’ve really added to my understanding of dithers. I typically use them for aggression issues.

[@ruthsariban1072]

Concept of a dither fish was very helpful Am just setting up a new large aquarium and have some tummy nose tetras Your video has given me some valuable guidance of which fish to add next Thank you so much Will be following your videos

[@b7gwap]

Cory I wish you had been around when I was in the hobby 7 years ago, I wouldn’t have quit. Now I’m starting back up, you are doing great work for the hobby here. Thank you for sharing, dude!

[@clayd9477]

I like the videos using the green screen, but I can not wait to see the new studio and the 800 with ladybird.

[@graceghent5900]

Same!

[@sarawilliams9506]

This was a great one! "I said get outta here!" Chomp chomp...

[@theblindfishkeeper]

I absolutely love the way you explain things for people who may not understand what you’re talking about. It makes things so simple to learn and retain the information

[@janinnemeloni2232]

Perfect timing. I came here looking for information on my newly acquired marble hatchet fish. And they made today's video! Thanks for all the education on this channel. Love it.

[@graceghent5900]

Those Hill Trouts are gorgeous! I've never seen them in person, but gosh I'd love to get some one day!

[@caidencechevalier2704]

I have zebra danios and they’re crazy, couldn’t imagine GIANT danios 😂

[@ead3nblvck938]

I have 12 giant danios. I don’t know what I was thinking when I got them lol. They are entertaining to watch, but when it comes to feeding time....savages 😂

[@thomasholden500]

The smaller danios (zebras and pearls, not sure about cpds) are super hardy, cheap, and easy to breed. The pearl danio was the first egglayer I bred successfully. I had gobs of them.

[@miguelosity]

@@ead3nblvck938 I have giants too. Always fun to watch

[@Sk9junk]

So true I do too and they are NUTS

[@thomasholden500]

@Laksama Hang Tuah So I have heard; I've never seen them in my LFS. If they're as easy to breed as zebras, leopards, or pearls the price should come down.

[@derekacker1961]

Cory and his team are the best. Knowledge, experience, and tips for aquarists of all skill levels. Love getting their notifications.

[@fredgandolfi2356]

I learned something new. Again. Thanks Cory. I appreciate that you keep the videos educational, low drama, and content rich. They stand apart.

[@loneturtle8925]

I’d always heard of “aggression diffusion” and never quite understood. This really helps.

[@lancehoffpauer7010]

The three people that disliked this like hair algae.

[@mycutepetshrimp1532]

12 people looking for some bba

[@theholysynopsis5100]

Do any of these fish reduce female betta fish aggression in sororities?

[@lil-mumma-adventures]

Hahah yes

[@jameshourigan]

Great video. I’m starting out my first fish tank soon, it’s a 15 gallon tank and I’m planning to set it up with some black neon tetras, and 3 or 4 kuhli loaches which I can’t wait for :) I’m gonna try for a planted tank, I’m new to this hobby but have been thoroughly researching fish tanking the last month or so, and my first tank should arrive this week. If anyone has any tips and tricks I’d love that ! This channel has helped out a tonne, thanks Corey

[@corgikat21]

New to the hobby I cant thank you enough for all of your educational videos. I’ve learned so much and have the confidence that I can bring my vision to reality with all your help!

[@mrswiggles2012]

i have giant danios in most of my tanks just because I love the way they look and they are always on the move.

[@camsch7488]

I thought that hatchetfish was an interesting recommendation, keeping dither fish together with breeding fish sounds like a cool tank idea

[@trevoroates8868]

This has to be one of my favorite videos of yours. Lots of great information and it has given me lots of ideas for my next tank! Thanks Cory!

[@jfgaxeworks3447]

It always seems like your advice comes at exactly the right time. Either that, or I set up too many fish tanks.

[@Kont3rfit]

Whelp I need to get more corydoras now. They are so cute when they cuddle each other.

[@Anom_Ali]

My boyfriend finally got an aquarium of his very own. He's looking forward to adding a mini gourami to his guppy fam.

[@darrelcole6185]

Great video Cory. This makes a lot of sense as my school of Cory's help to encourage my CPD out from hiding. Now my CPD greet me along with my Betta during feeding time.

[@vickicorbin2244]

Aquarium Coop and Cory and the gang are my new best friends! So much good and helpful info. I feel like they are speaking to me personally. Great Customer Service too. They take an active role in helping with their products I've bought. In fact I was contacted one time that was not solicited to ask how one of my plants was doing. I have never felt more loved and welcome. This will be a lifelong relationship. Thank you.

[@nekoomer]

just recently started getting into fish-keeping and you've been such a big help! can't wait to join the next livestream! :)

[@juliana-un4kk]

Its like stopping an introvert of being shy by group of extroverts😑😂

[@sandydevine4993]

My aquariums are my therapy! I only have seven set up at this time. Planning the eighth. 55 gal. with Angels, Congo Tetras, Panda and Bandit Corys. 29 gal. Pea Puffer exhibit. 10 gal. nano tank with CPDs and Shrimp. A 15 gal. with Emerald Dwarf Rasboras, will be adding shrimp. The list goes on. Thank you, Cory for all your advice!

[@DB-ms2td]

Just set up my first 10 gallon planted. This was helpful, thank you guys at aquarium co-op!

[@loonynaturalist]

The more I see these videos, the more I wish to be a fish in one of Cory's aquarium....

[@michaelodonnell8981]

Loving the look of the val I bought from you guys a couple of months ago; it's spreading all over the place. Thanks for all you do!

[@laina7786]

Can’t wait to get a larger tank!! Thanks for all your knowledge, Cory!!

[@TheNellehFox]

I moved house a couple of weeks ago and my big angelfish hasn't forgiven me yet. He used to handfeed but he hates me now >.

[@LeeDfined]

That's what my Gourami is doing. I had to move and he wants no part of me and hides as soon as he sees me. I bought White Cloud minnows to provide movement and break the tension. I never knew there was a term for it.

[@juliansfish617]

Something's funny with the green screen so he's just ever so slightly green.

[@JayNolanIV]

It's usually because of light bouncing off of the well-lit green screen, and onto the subject. The software for keying the screen is pretty specific about the tone of green it's able to identify and deal with, and deviation (like green + skin tone color) get past it. More light plus some red/orange gels on the subject could assist in production, or an extra few hours of color correction if you're the 'fix it in post type'. I'd just live with it for this tho.

[@melodymurphy8635]

Love all your videos! They've helped me so much with everything - except deciding on which fish to get because they all sound so amazing!! I want to try them all!

[@gointothedogs2]

I thought I was subscribed so now I am. Thanks for all the information!!! We started a month ago with a 10 gallon...and already got bit by the 75 gallon tank sale bug. So all this info will help when going from 6 neon tetra and a snail that snuck in on a few plants we bought that was in the tank with neons. So we have some decisions to make and narrow down!

[@SClarkeOhlendorf]

Great content, as always, Cory and crew! I recently added 3 dumbo mosaic tiger guppies to my community tank and it has breathed life into the tank. The yoyo loaches, neon tetras, zebra danios, and leopard danios are all much more active now. Thanks for this suggestion!

[@betsyjackson-wright9005]

I love watching Cory!! Especially when he does his impersonations of the fish. Great video. Very helpful information!

[@thomasmeade4490]

every single time you post your story its an inspiration to so many people out here and I can't thank you enough for allowing us to be part of your journey through this life

[@AquariumKyle]

Love all your videos, just got my order of plants and supplies from your store and everything was amazing. Great service!

[@paulcamilleri6837]

Fantastic and educational content. I never knew that dither fish could help with aggression between other species and the explanation makes perfect sense. Thank you for sharing. I didn't enjoy the black haze around Corey which I haven't seen before on other Aquarium Coop videos with green screen.

[@nihuffy3192]

I really enjoyed this unique way to look at putting different kinds of fish in the same aquarium.

[@ickyfritz]

I really enjoy all the videos.. been years since I tried an aquarium. I've been encouraged by the wealth of information to try again while being a good bit more informed and to also try out plants for the first time.

[@tiffanysalazar1412]

Crazy how knowledgeable you are Cory. Thanks for another great video.

[@melissadarnall399]

Please keep this educational content coming! New fish keeper here (eventually) with tank still cycling. Thanks Aquarium Co-op!

[@najiwench]

Just got my 60 gallon set up, I'm enjoying the heck out of these videos and learning so much! Right now, I'm debating what to get for the top of my water column, a good centerpiece, and then waiting for everyone to get settled so we can get our rainbow shark.

[@tracyleetham7193]

Thanks for the info. I just started adding fish over the weekend and now I am aware of some additional types I should be looking for. THANKS you have the best information!!

[@swedishrainbow_garden7672]

Most of my fish are out and about all the time as are my shrimp. I have a pretty calm environment in my tanks, trying to match up fish that will like to live together without fear. I'm always learning a lot from this channel. Thanks!

[@brianklimaszewski]

Good video! Lots of people struggle breeding fish because they don't have the dither fish to ease aggression or make them feel safe

[@NeRo9k]

I started with a group of 6 zebra danios in a 10 gallon over a year ago. Now I have 6 aquariums and corydoras have turned into my favorite fish and a must have for all of my tanks.

[@asiarevell3259]

love your channel! im about to start shopping for my 10 or 20 gallon aquarium for college, and your videos have helped a bunch. thanks for the great content!

[@danibecca8121]

Love Hatchetfish, I have 10 of them. Never thought about them helping my shy fish. Great video

[@jamiewright734]

im new to fish keeping and ive started with a 65 galleon tank and its your videos on plants have been extremely helpful thanks so much

[@jjep6631]

Can't wait until i have enough space to put my rummynoses in a big ol 40 gallon! love the way that school looks in your tank. Thanks for some great content!

[@dakuaquatics]

I purchased 10 ember tetras from Aquahuna yesterday for my Bristlenose Pleco tank for exactly this reason! Great video Cory.

[@karenhieatt5581]

Great advice - I added dithers and get so much enjoyment from them I sometimes forget why I got them

[@kaerzesavoy4018]

Absolutely one of your best videos! probably TLDR: New, cycled 3 gal planted tank, LFS gave me bad information on what & # to stock, and I believed them. Acclimated my 4 babies, a week went by just fine. The middle of the next few days later, the h20 parameters went bonkers, nitrite spike. I immediately did multiple 50% h20 changes figuring too much bio load, added seachem stability, more plants, vacuumed every other day. When everything became balanced again, I had lost my sweet betta 🫣😣and a tetra. One tetra has recovered completely, the other is very shy due to all the activity getting the balance back. It’s been 2 weeks now, but & i think both tetras may live. one male guppy might be just the ticket. I have some pothos ❤️doing well, and a peace lily now in h20 to put in both my tanks in a month or two for more help. Tytyty!

[@wellbuster4979]

Fairly new to the hobby, your video's have really helped me. Your knowledge and delivery are what keeps me coming back for more!!

[@fireblade9973]

Guppies seem to do really well at bringing other fish out to play in my tank. My fan shrimp also come out more since adding guppies.

[@corawalkswithdogs330]

So glad I found this channel! Only seen a couple videos but already learning a lot and adding fish to my list!

[@demith82]

I never had issues with shy fish yet, but love adding more livebearers to tanks to help other fish to come up fast to grab food...

[@miguelangelcruzsanchez7301]

I just recently started on the hobby and your videos have been super helpful. I also did my first purchase from aquarium coop a couple of weeks ago, my new planta are amazing and thriving. Thanks!

[@TheRealGrace4You2]

Got the Cory’s and skirted tetras, building a 55 gal now so all the videos help with potential new additions thanks!

[@everyday-antiqueshandmadea4296]

Your channel has helped me so much. Always learning something new. There is so much info out there by inexperienced people. I just come here to not get further confused.

[@jimmyg619]

Can always count on Cory and the aquarium co op crew for all kinds of tips and tricks. Thanks for always posting videos!

[@amandastoyer5752]

This was a very helpful video for me, thank you. My group of five tetras are hiding alot and now I know fow to make them more comfortable.

[@kaerzesavoy4018]

Yes, Cory is THE best dither, with Girl talks Fish & KGtropicals in order, afterwards. ❤️❤️ Have the time finally to fish keep after 50yrs you out of the loop, lots of catching up to do! Felt like a noob, now I have people to help. Happy Dance! Tytyty!

[@MasterPhotographer]

I’ve never thought about dither fish, and what they do for the tank atmosphere. Thanks for enlightening me!

[@user-br6ne5qf8j]

Great information that’s really getting me fired up to do lots more breeding. Also liked how Cory offered up some alternative species beyond the typical for dither fish such as the pencil fish and hatchet fish.

[@rhondacole5231]

I love the suggestions of combining different types of fish I wouldn’t have thought of. Thanks!

[@deliahidalgo1511]

Dither, there’s so much to learn in this community!!

[@pranavhushe6069]

Hey Cory Thanks for all these top 5 videos Really helped me stock my 10 gallon creatively and appropriately

[@Mark_T_902]

Love it. Definitely need more action in my aquarium.

[@christinhayes]

Super helpful, a topic I had been wondering about! And good timing as our first batch of guppy fry were born this week!

[@freddylaffite9464]

Starting a 37 gallon community tank, can't wait to get my dither fish from you guys!

[@pawtucketpatriot4759]

Just getting back in the hobby after about 10 years out of it with my wife! (shes a first time fishkeeper) really enjoying the content and new tank ideas

[@sunflowermouse307]

Started out my tank with one honey dwarf gourami and 7 corydoras. The gourami, Applesauce, was very shy until I added a few platys. Immediately he made friends with them and became comfortable swimming around and eating off the top of the water. And I get the benefit of platy population control since Applesauce loves his baby snacks.

[@Redkoolaid402]

ordered my first package from you all! It got here way faster than i expected thanks!!!

[@dianemurray2671]

Love this idea, and recently found out how great this works. I have guppies in with a new bolivian ram, who was hiding, or bullying.

[@martypeppydawgchild32]

In a 125 gallon, we have a mated pair of buttikoferi cichlids (male is 12" and female is 7") and they are extremely aggressive. They've even killed large plecos and have been kept as a pair for 6+years now. However, I recently added 12 green neon tetras and 4 tiger barbs as "dither" fish. After a week, they're all still accounted for...no deaths. The large buttikoferi really don't seem to go after them. It's as if they're too small to be considered a threat or food.

[@candacegreer9077]

Thank you so much for all of the amazing content you put out! So helpful for newbies like me!

[@aaronalger8222]

Looks like I have a tank of dither fish and I love it. Cardinal Tetras and Panda Cory’s. Awesome to watch. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@richardabernathy5676]

Never thought about dither fish but will use them in the future. Thanks for the tip Corey

[@walterlingram]

Thank you for teaching about dither fish. I heard the word for the first time the other day.