Rainbowfish

[Digsy]

Now that I have gotten through the ups and downs of the first two months of my new setup, I'm looking at getting some rainbowfish. I've checked all of my local fish shops and some not so local and am finding the pickings to be quite slim. Even when shops stock rainbows, they look somewhat colorless. Now, I am far from an expert on these fish but wondered if anyone had any insight into why every variety of rainbowfish at my lfs is silver. Is it a lighting issue? Are mail-order rainbows going to be much more colorful? I know I've read that the males are generally more colorful but, I can't believe that all the shops are only stocking females...

Also, I've read conflicting information about their size and wondered how many would feel at home in my 58 gallon. Thanks for any advice!!

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by Digsy

Now that I have gotten through the ups and downs of the first two months of my new setup, I'm looking at getting some rainbowfish. I've checked all of my local fish shops and some not so local and am finding the pickings to be quite slim. Even when shops stock rainbows, they look somewhat colorless. Now, I am far from an expert on these fish but wondered if anyone had any insight into why every variety of rainbowfish at my lfs is silver. Is it a lighting issue? Are mail-order rainbows going to be much more colorful? I know I've read that the males are generally more colorful but, I can't believe that all the shops are only stocking females...

Also, I've read conflicting information about their size and wondered how many would feel at home in my 58 gallon. Thanks for any advice!!

Spend some time here:
http://user.aol.com/cebrezzie/aquarium/rainbow.htm
You're probably not going to get a good rainbow species at your LFS. You are probably seeing Alexrodi Rainbows, not very colorful until full grown adults. Bosemani can sometines be found at LFS. Best bet, try aquabid and do rainbowfish searches until you find a forum dedicated to the fish, will get a lot of help there and probably find some nice fish......DC

[Digsy]

Thanks for the link, Diablo...I'll check it out. Any other rainbow keepers on here?? I'm really curious to hear where people are finding the beauties I've seen photographed on here or if the normal coloration is really just not showing up at the lfs.

[yodahorn]

The rainbow in my LFSes look good, but the ones in my tank at home look much better, color enhancing food helps. It seems that they color up once they are in a nice calm environment where someone isn't shoving a net in their tank and scooping out their buddies. The ones in the planted display tank at my LFS look more colorful than the one in the for sale tanks. The New Guinea Reds and turquoise and praecox rainbows look especially silver in the store. You may see 3.5" listed as the adult size. Figure on 5" per adult with the exception of praecox, which I don't care for anyway. I have 9 in my 46 and would be better with 6-7. You could probably do 9-10 in your tank without any other species of fish other than some algae eating species.

[turbosaurus]

A stressed rainbow is a pale rainbow so everything at the pet store will not look so hot. I brought home some Iranian reds and they were the funniest pale pink when I put them in their new tank that are now fire engine RED. In addition most don't color up well until they are adults and the ones at your LFS will be young. I have some amazing fish I got at the LFS (petco believe it or not) that didn't look like much 6 months ago but are stunning now...

Just make sure the fish you are buying is the breed you are actually looking for, then take them home and let them settle it and feed them well. Get to know which ones you are looking for and then make sure they are labeled correctly.

[Shawn_KY]

I have Australian Rainbows which are not as colorful as the others, but they do have some nice blues and oranges through-out... The lfs sell others, just not willing to pay for the more colorful ones yet... Waiting for a bigger tank... Bigger tank = bigger money!

[BlueRam]

As a rainbow keeper in Seattle- These fish are available although happy/color does take a little work. Keep in mind that stressed fish are pale (as posted) and there is some difference between male/female (New Guinea as example)

You can order a spawning mop off of Aquabid if you are good at fry care.
My rainbows like a long tank. They were skittish in a 29 gal (30") but went mellow in the 48" tank.
Rainbows eat plants as judged by the green poop test.
hybrids are frowned upon (enough colors naturally!) so make it a single species or do not raise hybrids.
They are long lived and can get large.

So PM if you would like more info or places I would go look.

Originally Posted by Digsy

Thanks for the link, Diablo...I'll check it out. Any other rainbow keepers on here?? I'm really curious to hear where people are finding the beauties I've seen photographed on here or if the normal coloration is really just not showing up at the lfs.

[Digsy]

Thanks so much everyone for all the great info! :-) Blue Ram, I've sent you a PM for further local rainbow info. 6-8 sounds like a perfect number for my 58 gallon, though I will need to part with some of the current residents to make room.

[thumperinflorida]

My lfs got in a tank of assorted rainbows. I asked for the net....and scooped out 3 Bosemani. They had so much color even being youngsters. They are in a 30 gallon show tank and have been bold and bright since being brought home.

[indyglyder]

there are many species available many of the names get generalized at the lfs like when they call them austrailains. since a ton of them are from austrailia. this site has info on them.Home of the Rainbowfish
this site has some for sale that uses the species name correctly.That Fish Shop
always buy enough so they will school. I have seven mccullochs and one the lfs referred to as a turquise and the turquise chases the others and bothers them. when he does a yellow stripe appears on the top of his body and goes away later.

[GreenerSideofLIfe]

I'm in Tacoma. If your intrested in rainbows Ive got some that Id like to part with. Mine wouldnt stop breeding. All that constant spawning littlery has stressed all but one of my females to death. Now I have a bunch of males who wont stop harrassing each other and one poor female whos now living with a bunch of mollies and seems to be happier.

Rainbows when they arnt stressed out are VERY pretty. But they can get pretty big and somewhat agressive when they are spawning. Just be careful what you house them with if yours end up spawn happy like mine... LOL

[George Willms]

Rainbows don't always show their best in the stores as other have noted here. Size depends on the species, but figure at least 4" for the smaller species and 8" for some of the larger ones. I've noticed that with the silvery rainbows there fins tend to be the most colorful parts of their bodies.

[LS6 Tommy]

I keep a few of the different "blue-eyed" or Australian rainbows. I like them for their smaller size, and I also like fish like them because you really have to look closely at all the little details to appreciate them. People look at the tank, see the Discus, look closer and say "wow, what are these beautiful little guys?" all the time.

Tommy

[hootie2s]

Okay so I am an Australian who keeps natives....inc. rainbow fish and here is a site well worth a look.

ANGFA Home Page


Cheers,
Brett