Not Really A Rainbow But Close

[Baccus]

I managed to get some footage of my male Harvey Creek Blue Eyes displaying and fighting for breeding rights. You just need to ignore the sticky beak endlers and native shrimp that also interrupts the film

 . The endlers think all people = food.
http/s1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/Baccus4702/?action=view&current=DSCF2826.mp4
 
 
 

 

[snazy]

They are lovely. I want to get some blue eyed forktail rainbows myself one day.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Nice little fish, remind me of Pseudomugil signifer.

 

[Baccus]

They maybe getting a name change but for now Pseudomugil signifer is their name.
Beautiful fish and very entertaining to watch.

 

[snazy]

I got myself 10 forktail rainbows yesterday, yey. It's your fault Baccus because you reminded me that I wanted some They are still babies. The shop had huge adults in a display tank and they looked gourgeous.  I wasn't sure what the female to male ratio should be so I got 5 each. I have them now in a big(90L) plastic container with their own filter and heater to make sure they aren't sick because one of the fish tanks in the shop had white spot. I feel a bit guilty putting fish in quarantine because they'd rather have a matured tank, especially these species, at least from what I read so hopefully they'll be fine. No ammonia so far so the matured media must be handling it.
The males were already showing off and "fighting" today, not sure what for because they are as small as a male endler and the females even smaller than that. But they were like stuck to each other with their fins spread out and going in a circle same as my male guppies do sometimes.

 

[Baccus]

I will happily take the blame for somebody being reminded of a fish they wanted and then got for themselves

 .
With rainbows I think the safest bet is a similar ratio of males to females like guppies, the males can get pretty determined so less males should equal less sparing/ warring with each other but more actual spawning with the females.
I would like to get some delicate rainbows and Honey blue eyes, I love the colour of the eyes and the fins are amazing on these fish and the colour is great but subtle.

 

[Baccus]

Another video I took of my blue eyes, just ignore the weather flood reports on the radio in the background.
 
http/s1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/Baccus4702/?action=view&current=DSCF2912_zpsacba5762.mp4

 

[snazy]

They are very beautiful. What is the life span of these rainbows? I couldn't find proper info.

 

[NorthEastFisherman]

Beautiful fish and tank!

 

[Baccus]

Thanks, the video only shows about 1/2 of the actual tank the other end is thick with tiger lotus and Amazon swards.
 
As for how long your forked tail rainbows should live for I am thinking that it could be like neon tetras (well maintained neons can live for 10 years), so the forktailed blue eyes should live for at least 3 with a maximum of around 6 years. But in that time hopefully they should have spawned for you and you can raise the young to keep the population sustaining.
As for Harvey Creek Blue eye life span I think it would be very similar to the forktailed. But I seem to recall reading somewhere that they are better off being bred when young or only just sexually mature.

 

[snazy]

Thanks Baccus.

 

[Baccus]

No worries

 

[snazy]

Well, that's what's called impatience but I just moved the rainbows to the other tank. They looked too stressed in that bare plastic tank to me. I think I am gonna upgrade it a bit and put some cory fry there instead.
 It turns out they've given me 7 males and 3 females now that I can see them properly. They look very healthy at the moment hopefully it will be alright. The platies gave them a chase and it scared me a bit but there's surviving fry swimming freely in there without anyone paying attention.
And the guppies really like them. They've bunched up with them in a school at the moment which is so cute.
I definately need more females. And I'll shut up now

 

[VickyChaiTea]

Wow, they're really pretty. I miss my threadfin rainbows, these guys sort of remind me of them. Lovely!

 

[Baccus]

Blue eyes are actually suggested for dams and backyard ponds, not only for their hardiness and peaceful nature but also because they are supposed to be frog friendly and they are excellent mozzie control.
My blue eyes get on really well with my endlers, but when I first put the blue eyes in the tank the crazy male endlers thought they where just big female endlers and kept trying to breed with them

 

 . But they soon realised the mistake and now the blue eyes are always in the thick of the endler swarm

 . I hope to be going up to Cairns (where my type came from) later this year so I might be able to get myself some more, along with snails and shrimp.
As yours mature Snazy be sure to show us some pictures!