Question about Celebes and Threadfin Rainbow

mannydies

AC Members
Aug 31, 2006
23
0
0
So I saw these two fish at the LFS and thought they were just beautiful and had to have them, but of course I was to excited to go home and research them before I got them. Well I asked the guy at the store if they should be kept in schools or if they are fine by themselves and he said they were, so I got one of each. After some research on them at home I found that they do better in a school. So heres my questions:

1. Will I be ok with just one of each like I have? (their happy as heck now)

2. Can they school together, and if not how many more do I need, I have a 37G with 2 rams, 1 dwarf gourami, 5 guppys and 4 schwartz cats. I am pretty close if not at max load so dont really know what to do? :confused:

3. My Celebes fins spread out from time to time, which is extremely pretty by the way, but is it normal or is he stressed out or what??

THanks for any help I can get!!
 
1. All Rainbowfish do better in schools of their own species but they will school 'losely' with other species. Having one of 2 different species is better than having a solitary rainbow.
2. IMO I don't think you would be overstocked if you got 1 or 2 more of each species. They will be happier that way. I have found rainbows will get on with the other fish you have.
3. Perfectly normal and a sign of health/good water. Males flare their fins to impress the females and to ward other males off their females.
 
OK thanks alot, I think Im going to get 1 more of each for right now. I feel better knowing that they are not too stressed at the moment. :dance2:
 
Unfortunately rainbows need a school of at least six to be happy.

Six being the bare minimum ...

There is a drastic change in persona when theres 8+ rainbows together over even just 6 ... I couldn't imagine what having 2 of each would be like o.o

Personally, being a Rainbow owner (I have a 77 gallon with 11 boesmani and another tank with dwarf neons), I think you need that min of six to even enjoy them. A lot of what makes a rainbow appealing is their natural behavior and that won't be brought out in such a situation.

=( No displaying or sparring or anything when theres so few of them.
 
twig said:
Unfortunately rainbows need a school of at least six to be happy.

Six being the bare minimum ...

There is a drastic change in persona when theres 8+ rainbows together over even just 6 ... I couldn't imagine what having 2 of each would be like o.o

Personally, being a Rainbow owner (I have a 77 gallon with 11 boesmani and another tank with dwarf neons), I think you need that min of six to even enjoy them. A lot of what makes a rainbow appealing is their natural behavior and that won't be brought out in such a situation.

=( No displaying or sparring or anything when theres so few of them.

In a perfect world all Rainbowfish would be kept in big schools, in big long tanks but that just isn't practical for everyone. IMO a small mixed school of rainbows will be just fine in a smaller tank (as long as you have at least 2 of each species). If the water is good they will trive, display, and if you have a pair even breed. In the end good water conditions (and not overcrowding) are more important than having a huge school of rainbows. Just my 2 cents.
 
Yeah I agree with tropical, I mean I wish I could have a bigger school but its not possible in my 37G. And my water quality is dang near perfect, because I do have sensitive fish like my german rams. So today I bought one more of each and all 4 are doing and looking good. I am keeping an extra close eye on them just to make sure that their doing ok. Well, I appreciate your guys help, so hopefully my rainbows will live happy lives :D
 
mannydies said:
Yeah I agree with tropical, I mean I wish I could have a bigger school but its not possible in my 37G. And my water quality is dang near perfect, because I do have sensitive fish like my german rams. So today I bought one more of each and all 4 are doing and looking good. I am keeping an extra close eye on them just to make sure that their doing ok. Well, I appreciate your guys help, so hopefully my rainbows will live happy lives :D
hmmmm... you should get no less than 4 of one type, or 2 of each. they would suffer with just one of another species.
 
fishcatch22 said:
hmmmm... you should get no less than 4 of one type, or 2 of each. they would suffer with just one of another species.

Thats why as of now I DO have 2 of each, if I can trust me I will get more.
 
AquariaCentral.com