I know ive already been told that rainbows are highly individual in terms of personality example: some are aggresive and some arnt, even of the same species. I have a group of young Bosemani Rainbows and ive noticed the biggest brightest one tends to chase the other one's off when they get into his space (i think its a he anyway). Anyway my question for today is wheater or not thats normall behaviour generally speaking or is he just overly aggresive? If I was to add more community fish to the tank later (which id like to do) will he bully them? Thanks in advance!
Rainbowfish Temperment
- Thread starter Zuckuss
- Start date
Sorry, not familiar with the Bosemani Rainbows so I can't answer your question. Just noticed that you didn't mention the size of the tank and the actual number of fish you have in there, or what other kind of fish. That may have a bearing on the answer you are trying to get.
Yes, that's normal behaviour. Can you post a picture of the juvie in question? And the others as well. I'll see if I can sex them for you.
As I mentioned in another post, they don't play well with other schooling or mid-level fish, and they don't play well with top level who won't get out of the way. My Boesemani had no problems with the two platies I had in the tank at one point, and they didn't bother the neon tetras, however the neons were never to be seen. All they do is hide when there are rainbows in the tank.
All of my rainbow species get along with bottom dwellers. No problems there.
The bigger the tank, the less bullying you'll see. They need a lot of space, some species more than others.
Roan
As I mentioned in another post, they don't play well with other schooling or mid-level fish, and they don't play well with top level who won't get out of the way. My Boesemani had no problems with the two platies I had in the tank at one point, and they didn't bother the neon tetras, however the neons were never to be seen. All they do is hide when there are rainbows in the tank.
All of my rainbow species get along with bottom dwellers. No problems there.
The bigger the tank, the less bullying you'll see. They need a lot of space, some species more than others.
Roan
I have a mixed school or rainbows 3 Iranian 1 turquoise 1 pracox and a Bosemani.
The largest is one my Iranian's and he like to show hes the boss. Chase everyone one around and such, But never causes any harm. As for adding other fish my rainbows could care less about the others in the tank. I have with them a Beta, a platy, a molly, and a danio that share there swim area. On the bottom theres 4 corys and a pictus cat. Never had any problems.
On a side note if you haven't got them a good power head for current you should really think about getting one. They love swimming in the current and it gives them something to do other then chase each other around. I use a MJ-1200 (295GPH) in my
3 foot 50Gal and mine spend the majority of there time on the flow.
The largest is one my Iranian's and he like to show hes the boss. Chase everyone one around and such, But never causes any harm. As for adding other fish my rainbows could care less about the others in the tank. I have with them a Beta, a platy, a molly, and a danio that share there swim area. On the bottom theres 4 corys and a pictus cat. Never had any problems.
On a side note if you haven't got them a good power head for current you should really think about getting one. They love swimming in the current and it gives them something to do other then chase each other around. I use a MJ-1200 (295GPH) in my
3 foot 50Gal and mine spend the majority of there time on the flow.
Adding to what others have said, I have found that size REALLY makes a difference with mine. I have a mixed school of 7 boesemani and praecox. I have a praecox that is a little older and bigger and when I bought him a couple of praecox friends he wasn't too impressed and is preferring to hang with a couple of the boesemani which match him better in size. So, I don't know if you have a notable size difference, but this could be part of it, too.
Take care,
Mary.
Take care,
Mary.
The tank they are in is 77 gallons and there are 10 but I would like to cut that number back to six and put 40 + cardinals in but I think this may be a bad Idea so I dont know... and sorry I cant get a picture on at this time... I got them in three batches though the oldest ones are around 1 year old some are 10 months and some are around 4 months (I think anyway) so there is a wide variety of size and color and yes the one in question was in the first batch.
Sorry, Zuckuss -- with two of my own boards going and making sure I keep up with here as well, I sometimes lose a thread or two.
Okay, mduros brings up some very valid points about size.
First of all I'd like to shake your hand for having a decent sized school of Boesemani. Although you may be annoyed with them, their behaviour is very typical of Boesemani in the wild. This type of thing usually only shows up when they are in large enough numbers. It may be undesirable to you, but it's perfectly natural to the fish. Most people don't see what you or I see (I have a school of 14 in one of my tanks).
I've not experienced the problems you seem to be having, though. My Boesemani were purchased in three lots as well. The first five I got from an LFS, the second two from an LFS and the last 6 from a breeder. I also have a 4 week old fry that was born in the tank and is almost 3/4 of an inch in size now. No one bothers Micky D. The last 6 I got are at least 4-6 months younger than the others. No aggression.
Is your tank planted? Lots of hiding places? Here's a shot of my 75g Boesemani tank:
As you can see, there are lots of places to hide and lots of spawning places.
Now, you know your fish are all over that tank all the time. Rainbows hardly stop. Even if you cut that school back to six bows, they will still be all over the tank.
Imagine that type of activity and a large school of cardinals in the middle of it. One of two things will happen, or perhaps both:
Why do you want to cut the school back? Is it because of the aggression? Or are you tired of the rainbows?
Roan
Okay, mduros brings up some very valid points about size.
First of all I'd like to shake your hand for having a decent sized school of Boesemani. Although you may be annoyed with them, their behaviour is very typical of Boesemani in the wild. This type of thing usually only shows up when they are in large enough numbers. It may be undesirable to you, but it's perfectly natural to the fish. Most people don't see what you or I see (I have a school of 14 in one of my tanks).
I've not experienced the problems you seem to be having, though. My Boesemani were purchased in three lots as well. The first five I got from an LFS, the second two from an LFS and the last 6 from a breeder. I also have a 4 week old fry that was born in the tank and is almost 3/4 of an inch in size now. No one bothers Micky D. The last 6 I got are at least 4-6 months younger than the others. No aggression.
Is your tank planted? Lots of hiding places? Here's a shot of my 75g Boesemani tank:
As you can see, there are lots of places to hide and lots of spawning places.
Now, you know your fish are all over that tank all the time. Rainbows hardly stop. Even if you cut that school back to six bows, they will still be all over the tank.
Imagine that type of activity and a large school of cardinals in the middle of it. One of two things will happen, or perhaps both:
- the cardinals will spend all their time at the bottom of the tank, miserable as all get out
- they will get in the way of the bows and the bows could possibly turn on them. I do not know for certain as I keep my rainbowfish as species only. I *have* had Boesemani and parva with neon tetras and glolites and I rarely see the tetras. They are always hiding. I have not seen aggression from the Boesemani, but I have seen some from the parva.
Why do you want to cut the school back? Is it because of the aggression? Or are you tired of the rainbows?
Roan
Roan Art said:Sorry, Zuckuss -- with two of my own boards going and making sure I keep up with here as well, I sometimes lose a thread or two.
Okay, mduros brings up some very valid points about size.
First of all I'd like to shake your hand for having a decent sized school of Boesemani. Although you may be annoyed with them, their behaviour is very typical of Boesemani in the wild. This type of thing usually only shows up when they are in large enough numbers. It may be undesirable to you, but it's perfectly natural to the fish. Most people don't see what you or I see (I have a school of 14 in one of my tanks).
I've not experienced the problems you seem to be having, though. My Boesemani were purchased in three lots as well. The first five I got from an LFS, the second two from an LFS and the last 6 from a breeder. I also have a 4 week old fry that was born in the tank and is almost 3/4 of an inch in size now. No one bothers Micky D. The last 6 I got are at least 4-6 months younger than the others. No aggression.
Is your tank planted? Lots of hiding places? Here's a shot of my 75g Boesemani tank:
As you can see, there are lots of places to hide and lots of spawning places.
Now, you know your fish are all over that tank all the time. Rainbows hardly stop. Even if you cut that school back to six bows, they will still be all over the tank.
Imagine that type of activity and a large school of cardinals in the middle of it. One of two things will happen, or perhaps both:
- the cardinals will spend all their time at the bottom of the tank, miserable as all get out
- they will get in the way of the bows and the bows could possibly turn on them. I do not know for certain as I keep my rainbowfish as species only. I *have* had Boesemani and parva with neon tetras and glolites and I rarely see the tetras. They are always hiding. I have not seen aggression from the Boesemani, but I have seen some from the parva.
Why do you want to cut the school back? Is it because of the aggression? Or are you tired of the rainbows?
Roan
First off id like to start by saying that you have a very wonderfull tank, it looks like your fish are very well taken care of!
It isnt that I am sick of rainbows its just that im frusterated with them... I know it isnt their fault and I am only to blame as I didnt have the forethought to predict this issue... The problame is that they are to active and they are starting to stress my other fish alot, mainly my silver dollers.
I knew they were a bit active but I never thought they would be this crazy, at feeding time they just totally freak out, the only fish that will dare venture towards the top to compete with them for food are my platies. My tank is mainly filled with peacfull more gentle fish, I guess the rainbows just freak them out, it was just totall ignorance on my part to have put them in there... the rainbows are by far in the minority so I really have to move them if anything.... Being a rainbow fan I know your probably upset to hear such ignorance. About the aggression they just tend to harass each other mainly but sometimes they like to bug my other fish, one decided to bite one of my platies numerous times... it latter died.
Yes my tank dose have many hidding places and no my tank is not planted with real plants due to the fact my silver dollers would eat them.
I guess im just another newb that screwed up... bad... thanks for all your time on this issue Roan Art and everyone else, Id understand if you were just to disscusted to reply.
Thank you!Zuckuss said:
AH! You have dollars in there, too? What temp are you keeping the tank at? I have a 65g of dollars -- they are my son's -- so I know the fish well. They are very shy and retiring guys.
I would move them, yes. FWIW the dollars and rainbows have very different needs. Boesemani do best with a temperature of 75-77*, whereas dollars need it much hotter.
Definitely not upset. Not one bit! I quite understand the problem you are having here.
They will eat most plants, yes.
Not disgusted at all.
What you have here is a real incompatibility problem. Here:
Boesemani: need cooler temps (75-77*), lots of plants as they are O2 intensive, a diet high in veggie and protein too (about 40%), lots of room to move and no other fish in the way. They are horribly active.
Silver Dollars: need warmer temps 79-81*, fake plants (although I have great success with crinum plants and some success with dark green, thick leaved anubias. My SD tank is full of them), diet high in veggie, lots of places to hide and no fish in their faces. They are very shy and retiring and startle very easily.
Frankly, dropping the school to six is not going to help you at all. I think you have two choices:
1. Take the Boesemani back or sell them
or
2. Get another tank for the Boesemani. It needs to be at least a 75g with a school of that size.
If you can get another tank, I would move the Boesemani and add those cardinals to the SD tank. I think 40 is pushing it a bit, though. I have 7 rummy nose and 7 rasboras with mine in the 65g and it looks really busy. Then again it depends on how many dollars you have. I intend on moving everyone in this 65g to a 75g tank next year. The dollars are getting quite huge. I have a school of 7. One was a "rescue" from an LFS and is at least 6" in size.
I seriously wish I could wave a magic wand and fix your problem, but the fact is that those Boes are just not compatible with your silver dollars at all.
Roan