Rainbow fish pretty easy to keep??

**oldhead** · 05-20-2008, 01:19 PM

I was just wondering if any of you guys had any experience with rainbow fish. I have a 65 gallon tank that I would like to go the community route with. The only inhabitants so far are 2 zebra danio, 2 long fin danio, 1 rubber lip and 1 clown plec. I was eyeing the rainbowfish since they can be so vibrant in color and possibly a couple of dwarf gourami. Would you guys think this is a bad idea? I have live plants in there now (water sprite and a couple crypts) and my ph is a constant 7.5 with the temp holding at 78F. Thanks for any input.

**Lady Hobbs** · 05-20-2008, 01:32 PM

I got 6 Australian rainbows a couple weeks ago and plopped them in my community tank with my rasbora's, corys and tetra's. They're doing fine. They weren't the rainbows I wanted but the only one carried at PetSmart when I went to shop for them. I would like to get a gaggle of the Neon Rainbows that stay small.

**Boertjie** · 05-20-2008, 01:45 PM

I have no experience on Rainbow fish, there is a nice site to assist also with the water conditions needed for different fish if this would help.

http://www.peteducation.com/category...y.cfm?cat=1911

**oldhead** · 05-20-2008, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Boertjie

I have no experience on Rainbow fish, there is a nice site to assist also with the water conditions needed for different fish if this would help.

http://www.peteducation.com/category...y.cfm?cat=1911

Wow, great site! Thanks so much for the link!

**Halelorf** · 05-20-2008, 02:09 PM

I have several bosemani rainbows and they are super easy to take care of.

**Sniffles** · 05-20-2008, 07:04 PM

I have rainbows in 2 of my tanks and they are one of my favorite fish.Your set up sounds good.I have never had a problem with rainbows.Just remember to get about 5 or 6 of them,preferably the same kind.They are great to set and watch the interactions they have between them.

**oldhead** · 05-20-2008, 07:19 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'm gonna try to start shopping around for some of these guys tonight. Seems like they'll be a great addition to my tank!

**The Wedge** · 05-20-2008, 07:42 PM

I only have 3 rainbow neons in my community tank because it was at the limit when I put them in. But they're some active little guys. My Dwarf Gourami is always hangin out with them. I got him young so I think...he thinks he is a rainbow neon.

**Lady Hobbs** · 05-21-2008, 02:03 PM

Was just doing more reading on the rainbows and it's stated they can get rather aggressive. Probably best to try to stick with only one or two kind from the same family in a tank. They also eat their fry so the parents have to be put in a fry tank and removed after spawning.

It's written they also spawn constantly.

The fry is not easy to rear and they die easily. They have to be fed about every hour and can not be moved for 8 weeks very successfully.

**Devon Greatwolf** · 05-21-2008, 02:47 PM

I am currently keeping 12 'Bows along with a 7 inch red-finned rainbow shark. I have 1 male and two females of the following: Bosemani, Kutubu, Axelrod, and Praecox. The only issue I have had is that the local availible stock seems to be very suceptable to columnaris (white mouth). After many losses due to columnaris I began a regimen of two 50% WC's weekly and adding salt to my tank. I also have a UV sterilizer (which was given to me) that I run for two weeks straight every six weeks. I agree that the UV is probably overkill. And yes my 'bows breed constantly and the only surviving young i have had grew out in my Jack Dempseys tank when the eggs hitched a ride over on some floating hornwort.