Forktail Rainbows

[theamazingmaise]

Hey guys i was reading a fish mag. and i saw these fish and now i really want some.I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about forktail rainbow fish thanks. 8)

 

[mitchie]

I've never heard of the name, my guess is that another name would be threadfin rainbows? Type "threadfin rainbows" into google.

 

[The-Wolf]

are you refering to popendetta fucarta?

they are very sensative to water params and need extreamly good water quality

 

[dwarfgourami]

are you refering to popendetta fucarta?

they are very sensative to water params and need extreamly good water quality

Strangely enough, Sandford in the Ultimate Fish Encyclopedia refers to them as a hardy fish- but I prefer to trust the-Wolf on this.

They've got them in my local lfs, and I am tempted, as there is no doubt they are striking-looking fish. But then again, I'd rather keep fish I can keep.

And I went googling and came across somebody who kept a related pseudomugil species (might have been gertrudae); he said they were so shortlived in his experience that they were almost to be counted as annuals. Though they did breed in his tanks.

 

[The-Wolf]

I had 10 P.fucata and I had a nitrIte spike of just 5ppm
they all died.
My next batch died when the nitrAtes went over 40ppm
I really do think these instances were the cause as no other fish were affected and
I had, on both occasions, been lazy on my water changes regime.

P.gerturdae as somewhat hardier but IMHO would require good quality water to thrive.
I still have one P.gertrudae from my batch of 10 around 8 months ago.

 

[theamazingmaise]

No the fish i was refering to is the Pseudomugil furcatus or forktail rainbowfish. According to Tropical Fish Hobbyist these fish are easy to keep, active, and fairly easy to breed.

 

[The-Wolf]

psudomugil is a junior synonym of popendetta
it is the same fish

 

[theamazingmaise]

Oh it is well thats a good thing to know. You said these fish were hard to keep?

 

[The-Wolf]

I supose it would depend on the actual fish
wild caught are certainly hardier than farmed ones.

don't let what i've said put you off them
they are a truly stunning fish and you should get some if you want.
just be vigourose in your housekeeping and they should be fine.

 

[theamazingmaise]

How many do you think i could get in a 20 gallon (us) with 5x black neaon tetras, and 2x blue rams?

 

[Parin]

I'd say 10. On that note, never kept Pseudomugil species (Popondetta is outdated, people shouldn't use the name anymore) in groups smaller than 10, they won't thrive. They are indeed short-lived, roughly 1,5 to 2 years.

 

[theamazingmaise]

They get to be around 2 inches right? Are these fish relativly rare and may not be found at my lfs?

 

[Parin]

They get to be around 2 inches right? Are these fish relativly rare and may not be found at my lfs?

Yup, about 2", sometimes a tad larger, but not much.
I don't know about stores in America, but here in Belgium they are quite easily found.

 

[BWBettas]

They have them currently in my LFS stunning fish when they extend the dorsal and tail fins.

Beatiful fish.

Bret

 

[theamazingmaise]

Im going to go to my lfs as soon as i can and buy some thanks guys