Rainbow fish - anyone know lots about them?

[frannyscho]

I've been trying to compile a folder about my different types of fishes to keep by the side of the tank for my children, myself and general interest.

I have a small shoal of what were sold to me as Rainbow fish, but they don't look like any of the fish on the web by that name. They are really weeny with bright neon eyeshadow and straw coloured transparent bodies with black veins or lines along them, but really thin ones. I double checked with the LFS and he confirmed they were. So what type are they? Or are mine just babies? They are about 2cm long, and what I suppose is the man is really flirty and keeps showing off his fins to everything, even glowlight tetras.

Any ideas?

 

[SarahBravo]

I've no idea but they sound intriguing - any chance of a pic?

 

[BigC]

You could have some juveniles of Melanotenia, these tend to grow quite large, but there are other smaller varieties of what are classed as Australian rainbows amongst which is the beautiful Celebes Rainbowfish.
There are also the genus's Iriatherina, Popondetta & Pseudomugil
Some are actually not from Australia at all but Papua New Guinea.
Do a google on the above latin names and see if they are anything like what you've been sold.
Regards
BigC

 

[The-Wolf]

this is proberbly the best rainbow fish website out there
http/members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/
HTH

 

[BigC]

Nice one Wolf. Good to know about these type of sites.

 

[MAM]

Wolf beat me to it, that IS a great site for finding out more about Rainbows.

If you don't see the one you have on there, try to post a picture, will make it easier for folks to help you figure out just what you have.

 

[abstract]

does it look anything like this ?

i know exaclty what fish you are talking about (i think)...they sell them at my lfs near the threadfin rainbows and they are listed something like "blue-eyed gertrude rainbow" although their naming is off sometimes - next time i go i will try to take a closer look

 

[The-Wolf]

Having re-read the original post and abstracts post
2+2= pseudomugil gertrudae Gertrudes' rainbowfish
I myself have 8 of these and no idea why I didn't spot the
original description

 

[frannyscho]

Thank you so much everyone. I tried and tried to take a pic but couldn't get a good one of the fins in focus - then I had trouble loading it on the site too. Such trouble that eventually I drove back to the LFS and they looked it up in their book and couldn't find it too. Very kindly the man looked it up in their order book

Popondichthys Furcata from Indonesia
Blue eyed forktail rainbowfish

The male has the most fantastic fins when displaying, all floaty and pointy.

 

[The-Wolf]

Popondichthys Furcata from Indonesia
Blue eyed forktail rainbowfish

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Just thought I'd let you know that Popondichthys
is no longer a valid genus, they are now valid as
psudomugil.

I sadly only have 2 left of my original ones and I can tell
you they are very sensative to the slighest trace of ammonia.
bi-weelky water changes are a must to keep this fish healthy and
alive.

 

[frannyscho]

How can a genus just be changed and not be valid? Has someone made a new linking discovery that disproves a previous one?