Rainbow Fish Stocking Options

[Built2Prfctn]

Hey guys I had two questions.
I'm looking to purchase Rainbow fish for my 60 gallon. I was going do get 3 types of Rainbow fish.
I've read you need to purchase 6 or more. Is it OK If I purchase 3-4 fish of different Rainbow types for a total of 10.

Also I'm looking for another fish that are compatible with my Rainbows - anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Lots of questions here... I'll start with these

#1 - Is this tank cycled? (nitrogen cycle)

#2 - What fish (if any) are in the tank now?

#3 - What are your water parameters (pH, gH, kH)?


The long and short of shoaling fish is that you can mix different species of Rainbowfish (or just about any other shoaling variety of fish) together and they will 'get along'. However... it is always best to keep those fish in their appropriate species groups. The different species wouldn't naturally hang out together... they will intermix for a short time in the wild, then break off and quickly go their separate ways. So, it is always best to keep 1 species at the proper number, than to mix a few different species from the same genus together and hope they group up.

A 60 gallon tank is a nice big tank that would allow for 2 full (albeit small number) shoals of rainbowfish.


These fish are very peaceful, but active swimmers. Fish compatible with that would be fish requiring moderately hard water, and aren't intimidated by 'fast' fish. Some bottom dwelling fish would go nicely, as the rainbows are mostly mid-water fish.

Which particular species of rainbowfish are you looking to keep as there are some slightly different water conditions preferred by different varieties...

 

[Built2Prfctn]

Lots of questions here... I'll start with these

#1 - Is this tank cycled? (nitrogen cycle)

#2 - What fish (if any) are in the tank now?

#3 - What are your water parameters (pH, gH, kH)?


The long and short of shoaling fish is that you can mix different species of Rainbowfish (or just about any other shoaling variety of fish) together and they will 'get along'. However... it is always best to keep those fish in their appropriate species groups. The different species wouldn't naturally hang out together... they will intermix for a short time in the wild, then break off and quickly go their separate ways. So, it is always best to keep 1 species at the proper number, than to mix a few different species from the same genus together and hope they group up.

A 60 gallon tank is a nice big tank that would allow for 2 full (albeit small number) shoals of rainbowfish.


These fish are very peaceful, but active swimmers. Fish compatible with that would be fish requiring moderately hard water, and aren't intimidated by 'fast' fish. Some bottom dwelling fish would go nicely, as the rainbows are mostly mid-water fish.

Which particular species of rainbowfish are you looking to keep as there are some slightly different water conditions preferred by different varieties...

The tank is cycled and there are currently no fish in there.
PH 7.2
GH 85
KH 40

I was looking to get 3-4 of each.
Boesemani Rainbow
Red Irian Rainbow
Praecox Rainbow

What do you recommend for bottom dwellers besides cories?
I also wanted to add some small schooling fish.

 

[Colin_T]

Yes you can mix different species of rainbowfish but try to keep species that grow to the same size. Keep even numbers of males (2, 4, 6) and have a few females too.

Rainbowfish need to be kept in groups of at least 6 and more is better. Good tank mates include some of the bigger barbs, small peaceful cichlids and various catfish.

Big rainbowfish will eat small schooling fish like neon tetras so any tank mates need to grow to at least half the size of the rainbowfish (about 2 inches or more).

There is more info on rainbowfish at the following link.
http://rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au/Melano.htm

---------------------
Melanotaenia praecox will get bullied by the male Glossolepis incisus. If you get Glossolepis pseudoincicus, they are smaller and more peaceful and be less inclined to bullying the M. praecox.

If you want a blue rainbowfish look for Melanotaenia lacustris. Chilatherina fasciata is a silvery blue and is a suitable size too.

 

[Built2Prfctn]

Yes you can mix different species of rainbowfish but try to keep species that grow to the same size. Keep even numbers of males (2, 4, 6) and have a few females too.

Rainbowfish need to be kept in groups of at least 6 and more is better. Good tank mates include some of the bigger barbs, small peaceful cichlids and various catfish.

Big rainbowfish will eat small schooling fish like neon tetras so any tank mates need to grow to at least half the size of the rainbowfish (about 2 inches or more).

There is more info on rainbowfish at the following link.
http://rainbowfish.angfaqld.org.au/Melano.htm

---------------------
Melanotaenia praecox will get bullied by the male Glossolepis incisus. If you get Glossolepis pseudoincicus, they are smaller and more peaceful and be less inclined to bullying the M. praecox.

If you want a blue rainbowfish look for Melanotaenia lacustris. Chilatherina fasciata is a silvery blue and is a suitable size too.

OK maybe I will stick with just 5 of each
Boesemani Rainbow
Red Irian Rainbow

How does a school of tiger barbs or green barbs sound?

 

[Byron]

OK maybe I will stick with just 5 of each
Boesemani Rainbow
Red Irian Rainbow

How does a school of tiger barbs or green barbs sound?

No on the Tiger Barbs (the "green" I assume refers to the green variety of Tiger Barb, so same species). This was covered by essjay in another of your threads.
http://www.fishforums.net/posts/3812018/

And for the rainbows, as Colin and essjay have said, you need at least six, preferably a couple more, if you want them to be in better health. Each species must have numbers of their own in order to interact as nature intends; what fish "expect" we must provide. And as Colin already mentioned, the ratio of male/female is important within the species group.

Melanotaenia boesemani needs six to eight, preferably more but the tank size must be kept in mind here.

Glossolepis incises attains 15 cm (6 inches) and needs a 4-foot (120 cm) length tank minimum, and then a group of six to eight or preferably more.

 

[cliffstips]

OK maybe I will stick with just 5 of each
Boesemani Rainbow
Red Irian Rainbow

How does a school of tiger barbs or green barbs sound?

I keep gold Barb's with my boesemani rainbows in my 65. I only have 5 of the rainbows but it's 3 males and 2 female and they seem pretty happy to me. The 4 gold Barb's are pretty big and blend well with the rainbows.

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