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Rainbow Fish

These small fish come from Australia, New Guinea and other islands in that area. They inhabit warm, sweet and brackish waters. They are difficult to find in nature, but they reproduce in the aquarium without problems, although their coloring loses intensity. They are very active fish, they need aquariums with large and clear areas to move around. If water conditions are not adequate, they restrict their mobility. They come from three different families: Melanotaeniidae, Pseudomugilidae and Telmatheriniidae.

Rainbow Fish by Boeseman

Melanotenia boesemani

Boeseman's Melanotenia or Rainbow
Boeseman's Melanotenia or Rainbow
Of the family Melanotaeniidae, it is also known as Boeseman's Rainbow. It originates from Lake Ajamaru in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. It reaches a maximum size of 9 cm, although females are usually somewhat smaller. Inhabits waters with temperatures ranging between 24 and 30° C, with pH always close to neutral (7), although it adapts to mild acidity; 6.5 on the scale. DH must not exceed 15 degrees. It adapts without difficulty to the dry food in scales, which must always be supplemented with invertebrates such as artemia and daphnia, and may be alive or frozen. It is important that the diet is varied, as these fish are omnivorous.

It's easy to take care of. The ideal is to have a cardumen of 6 or 8 specimens of both sexes. They perform better if the aquarium has areas with soft currents, which can come from the filter or from a pump placed for this purpose. It will identify males by their longer fins and brighter colors than females.

If you are interested in reproducing them will not be difficult, but consider that the coloration will not be at all intense with respect to that of the specimens brought from their natural habitat. They are usually silvery with swirling effects on the fins. These fish spawn in thin-leaved plants preferably. Eggs hatch in approximately 8 days, in water at a minimum temperature of 25° C. Feed the fry with infusories and then artemias.

Red Rainbow Fish

Glossolepis incisus

Red Rainbow Fish
Red Rainbow Fish
From the Melanotaeniidae family, it is native to Lake Sulawesi in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. It reaches a maximum size of 12 cm, although females are usually somewhat smaller. Inhabits waters with temperatures ranging between 22 and 26° C, with pH always close to neutral (7). DH must not exceed 15 degrees. These fish are omnivores, so their proper diet should be varied. Although it adapts quickly to the dry food in scales, it is important to always supplement it with invertebrates such as artemia and daphnia, which may be alive or frozen.

This variety requires more free space in the aquarium for swimming, and good circulation of water, which must be very well filtered. Have sectors planted in case they form pairs and reproduce. The males are very bright red, their scales look lacquered. The females are pale, they do not show off, but if they are not present, the males do not intensify their coloration.

In specialized stores you will find foods that keep their coloration lively. For reproduction in the aquarium, place Java Moss. That's where the females spawn. The fry are weak, however, if fed with freshly hatched artemias they will have a slow but natural growth.

© Adrián Blanco 2005 — Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —

por Adrian Blanco