Australian Rainbow Fish

[sykogngsta]

Ive seen some australian rainbow fish at my lfs and they seem to have a very dull coloration. I was wondering if australian rainbowfish ever color up and get nicer colors,like other rainbow fish, or if they always stay their dull grey color.

 

[Mikaila31]

All rainbows are dull when they are young, then color up as they reach maturity. But a lot of rainbows from stores tend to be really faded out. If you are interested in rainbows I suggest the boeseami rainbow they are really fun fish. If you want nice ones it is best to look for a good breeder.

 

[nmonks]

I agree with Mikaila31 above. Rainbowfish simply aren't nicely coloured when young. In addition, you need approximately equal numbers of boys and girls to get the males (which tend to be brighter coloured) to their maximum coloration.

As with any other fish, there's some degree of environmental context to consider too. Bright substrates (e.g., pale sand or God forbid painted gravel) will make these sorts of fish fade their colours. Shady (i.e., well planted) tanks with dark substrates encourage best colouration. Diet is important, and the more crustacean and algae foods you get into them, the better their colours will be. So-called colour enhancing foods work to encourage red colours, but don't do anything about the other colours. So you still need to balance the diet with other foods, e.g., algae flake, live daphnia, etc. to get the best colours.

Cheers, Neale

 

[sykogngsta]

I agree with Mikaila31 above. Rainbowfish simply aren't nicely coloured when young. In addition, you need approximately equal numbers of boys and girls to get the males (which tend to be brighter coloured) to their maximum coloration.

As with any other fish, there's some degree of environmental context to consider too. Bright substrates (e.g., pale sand or God forbid painted gravel) will make these sorts of fish fade their colours. Shady (i.e., well planted) tanks with dark substrates encourage best colouration. Diet is important, and the more crustacean and algae foods you get into them, the better their colours will be. So-called colour enhancing foods work to encourage red colours, but don't do anything about the other colours. So you still need to balance the diet with other foods, e.g., algae flake, live daphnia, etc. to get the best colours.

Cheers, Neale

What color substrate would you reccomend to make their colors look the best?

 

[sykogngsta]

what other rainbows do you reccomend?

 

[nmonks]

A dark substrate can be anything you want, but black sand or dark gravel work well. Provide shade using plants, either real or plastic. Rainbows definitely look their best in planted tanks.

Pretty much all rainbowfish are lovely. Do spend a little time going through a fish encyclopaedia though to find some species you like. Apart from the superb M. boesmani already mentioned, Glossolepis incisus, Melanotaenia splendida, Melanotaenia trifasciata, and Melanotaenia praecox are some of the more widely traded and excellent species seen in the UK.

Cheers, Neale

 

[sykogngsta]

A dark substrate can be anything you want, but black sand or dark gravel work well. Provide shade using plants, either real or plastic. Rainbows definitely look their best in planted tanks.

Pretty much all rainbowfish are lovely. Do spend a little time going through a fish encyclopaedia though to find some species you like. Apart from the superb M. boesmani already mentioned, Glossolepis incisus, Melanotaenia splendida, Melanotaenia trifasciata, and Melanotaenia praecox are some of the more widely traded and excellent species seen in the UK.

Cheers, Neale

thanks! I gues ill look aroiund to seee which kinds of rainbow fish i like the best.