Least Killifish and Dwarf Neon Rainbow

[zazz]

If I had 3 of the rainbowfish (1m,2f)
and as many Least killies as would fit all together in my ten gallon with the (3) chocolate gouramis
Would the eggs and fry be a significant source of food for the gouramis?
Would I have to cut down on other foods?
Thanks
~Z
PS If these gouramis make it, I am getting them a larger tank. I'd try to do the same thing; a small school of praecox rainbows, the gouramis, and maybe the leastkillifish. Any oppinions?

 

[FisheyLisa]

Least killie fish are wicked tiny...like fish fry. I had 25 in a 5g. If any of those other fish in your tank eat fry, they'll eat your all your killies. The females are about an inch head to tail, and the males are 1/2 that size...and their fry are barely visible. You should consider another, bigger fish IMO.

curiosity, Are you getting fish with the intentions of their fry being food?

 

[Leopardess]

No. Rainbowfish will not fit in that tank. They need more room as they can get 2.5-3" and are very active.

 

[zazz]

Thanks!
the chocolate gouramis are very small themselves, And slow moving. While I think they'd enjoy brand new fry, I don't think they'd eat the adults.( will double check though)
The Rainbowfish grow to two inches, are quick, omniverous and have a good appetite. I will be sure to get a definitive answer on whether the adults would be safe with them. I have read that they only eat small things because of a small throat ( :huh: thats what it said) but I'll be sure to confirm.

I already have the rainbowfish. I found out after I got them that they spawn prolifically and yes I figured the fry would be eaten.
The CG are reputed to be hard fish to keep. My main concern at this point is optimizing things for them. I figure fresh, live, born in tank food would be very healthy.
It is a very warm tank. 84F. not much water movement, and lots of plants. I thought a little cloud of least killie fish would be happy in there, be cool to have AND, yes provide fry as food.
why dyou ask?

 

[FisheyLisa]

Just curious because of how you stated it in your original post. That and putting Least fish seem to do best in a species tank. They are really tiny! They were a little tricky to keep as far as feeding (you have to break the flakes really tiny and they aren't aggressive feeders at all). They kept getting sucked into my whisper minifilter. I looke in one more, to see 3 adult males flushing around the inside, a couple caught dead in the sponge. That filter has barely any power!

I am assuming you reasearched the species, but if you want any article links, I can post them.

What about neons or something, zebra danios?

 

[zazz]

I'd love the links. Thanks, Lisa.
Ty Lioness.
~Z

 

[tricksterpup]

Hey Zazz,
They are a great fish and welcome to the world of Heterandria Formosa the least killiefish.
If you would like information, best thing to do is either A. do a search on my name or B. Heterandria Formosa . I am one of the Main Members here who actually pushes this fish. They are small and do best only in a species only tank. Also I have learned from my mistakes and would like to pass this info on to others. These guys do not do well with a small filter, sad to say. They tend to get sucked up. They are that tiny. When Lisa stated that she really meant that. The adult males are the size of guppy fry, 1/4 inch long, while the females can attain the max length of 1 inch but most are 3/4 of an inch. They are natives to florida and the South West United States. So these guys are a more cool water fish, so no heater is needed. As filtration goes, I recommend either a sponge filter or Under Gravel, this way you will not loose any fry or tiny adults. But remember like all live bearers they need timely water changes. More water changes more fry being produced meaning a good and healthy tank.
Since these guys are small, they love hiding in floating plant material. I love keeping mine with Horn Wort, hair grass and Duck weed. But any plants will do in this tank. Just make sure they have the room to feel secure.
As for providing food for Fish, I find this a very expensive alternative. They are harder to come by in petstores and tend to be more priced. Hets are not as prolific as Guppies and actually bear their fry differently. Guppies, platies, mollies and so on have multiple births during one day. While the Dwarf live bearer tends to do an assembly line style of giving birth. One fry in different stages in the parent fish and producing many fry but giving birth to one a day.

A great source for ordering them is through Sachs Aquaculture.

 

[zazz]

THANKS pup!
I was hoping to hear from you.
Is the reason they need a species only tank becase they get eaten? or something else?
The reason I was thinking of them instead of say, guppies, is that I thought they'd like the warmer water better.
Given your info on how they release their fry. I don't suppose they'd work for helping feed the gouramis even if the rainbows didn't eat them.
I was just given a 20G tall, which means everyone will be moving up soon. this leaves me with an available 5G hmmmmmm 25 you say lisa??
~Z

 

[tricksterpup]

THANKS pup!
I was hoping to hear from you.

No problem, I guess I am the resident expert on this guys.

Is the reason they need a species only tank becase they get eaten? or something else?

I have seen a school of these guys devour an full grown Oscar.. just kidding.
Nope you are correct, they are about the size of guppy fry and tend to be eaten by the larger fish. A friend of mine keeps them with her Endlers. I have her a trio of each endlers and Hets and they are living fine. So, you could do something like that, just be careful.

The reason I was thinking of them instead of say, guppies, is that I thought they'd like the warmer water better.

Nope, these guys are Native to Florida so cooler water is much better for them, so room temp is just fine.

Given your info on how they release their fry. I don't suppose they'd work for helping feed the gouramis even if the rainbows didn't eat them.

Fish like Gouramis do much better with a mixed diet. I prefer feeding mine a mix of flake and frozen. I personally think its much better than fish fry.

I was just given a 20G tall, which means everyone will be moving up soon. this leaves me with an available 5G hmmmmmm 25 you say lisa??
~Z

Yep, you can safely keep about 20-25 in a heavy planted 5 gallon with a sponge filter. Just remember to do weekly water changes and they will do well for you. Many breeders keep them in 1 gallon pickel jars and they do very well in those as well. I kept 15 fine in a 2.5 gallon tank of mine. Remember to keep live plants and allow some algae to grow in there. These guys will feed on that as well as the Infusia that thrives on the live plants.