Rainbowfish? What kind do I have? Need rainbowfish experts :)
- Thread starter NeonFlux
- Start date
Hmm...
Most likely the first one
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Affinis.htm
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/synergos.htm
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Arfakensis.htm
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/misoolensis.htm
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Monticola.htm
Most likely the first one
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Affinis.htm
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/synergos.htm
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Arfakensis.htm
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/misoolensis.htm
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Monticola.htm
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Most (all?) melanotaenias can interbreed, so id stick with more of the ones you have. The glossolepsis cannot interbreed with the melanotaenias, so it's cool to mix them. A 55 can definitely support 5 or 6 rainbows if you stay on top of those water changes. They get big, but they are pretty thin so it's not the same as say having a bunch of 5 inch goldfish or cichlids in a 55.
Oh really? 
Okay, I'll keep them two. But as for the red rainbow I think i'll take her out of the picture. I'll letcha know I have a 55 gallon tall...but thats fine,eh? just two.
Okay, I'll keep them two. But as for the red rainbow I think i'll take her out of the picture. I'll letcha know I have a 55 gallon tall...but thats fine,eh? just two.
If you only keep males, you can have whatever species you want. They will all display to eachother regardless of the presence of females (who can sometimes be hard to find anyway). So if you find a male boesmanii or two, there's no reason you couldn't add them. 
NeonFlux,
You definitely do not have turquoise rainbows. The last picture you showed is of two FEMALE boesemanis, I think the other one you have is a female incisus, but hard to tell because she looks pretty young and is very pale. You also do not have affinis, arfakensis, misoolensis, monticloa, or synergos, you would never find them in a lfs, they're far too rare. I'd return the incisus and try to find a couple of male boesemanis and probably another female, the males are easy to type because their front half is blue and their back half is orange or yellow. Rainbows do best in a school of five or more. What are the exact dimensions of your tank? If it is a really tall tank, you might want to add some extra aeration as rainbows are oxygen intensive fish.
Catfish69hunter, how long have you had the turquoise? These fish really do get bigger than 3 inches, they should grow to at least 4 inches and some might even reach 6 if given the right environment, but they grow very slowly and in a tank as small as a 28 gallon, yours might be too restricted by the tank to reach his/her full potential. My turquoise is currently 4 inches and still growing.
A couple final notes: Just because G. incisus are from another genus does not mean that they won't interbreed with M. boesemanis or M. lacustris, on the contrary, both of these crosses have been documented, and will result in viable fish, but they don't look nearly as nice as the pure species. Also, the incisus, boesemani, turqoise, and neon rainbowfish are all from New Guinea, not Australia.
You definitely do not have turquoise rainbows. The last picture you showed is of two FEMALE boesemanis, I think the other one you have is a female incisus, but hard to tell because she looks pretty young and is very pale. You also do not have affinis, arfakensis, misoolensis, monticloa, or synergos, you would never find them in a lfs, they're far too rare. I'd return the incisus and try to find a couple of male boesemanis and probably another female, the males are easy to type because their front half is blue and their back half is orange or yellow. Rainbows do best in a school of five or more. What are the exact dimensions of your tank? If it is a really tall tank, you might want to add some extra aeration as rainbows are oxygen intensive fish.
Catfish69hunter, how long have you had the turquoise? These fish really do get bigger than 3 inches, they should grow to at least 4 inches and some might even reach 6 if given the right environment, but they grow very slowly and in a tank as small as a 28 gallon, yours might be too restricted by the tank to reach his/her full potential. My turquoise is currently 4 inches and still growing.
A couple final notes: Just because G. incisus are from another genus does not mean that they won't interbreed with M. boesemanis or M. lacustris, on the contrary, both of these crosses have been documented, and will result in viable fish, but they don't look nearly as nice as the pure species. Also, the incisus, boesemani, turqoise, and neon rainbowfish are all from New Guinea, not Australia.
I agree with others that the bottom pic is probaby a glossolepis incisus. Although it could be a Glossolepis Pseudoincisus, which is called either a Tami River or Millenium Rainbow fish. If it's the Millenium, it will color up within a month or so, and stay fairly small, about 3.5".
The top ones may be too young to tell. Could be female Boesemani, but I don't think they are Melanotaenia Lacustris, or Turquiose Rainbows.
If you are interested in Rainbow fish, here are a couple of pictures that might help you.
The first picture has two male Boesemani, two Running Creek Banded Rainbows (Melanotaenia trifasciata), two Turquiose Rainbows (Melanotaenia Lacustris, about 4 months old 3"), two Neon Rainbows (Melanotaenia Praecox), and some Roseline Sharks (Puntius denisonii).
The second is a mature male Boesamani.
They are a wonderful community fish, you just have to have some patience to let them grow, mature, and color up.
The top ones may be too young to tell. Could be female Boesemani, but I don't think they are Melanotaenia Lacustris, or Turquiose Rainbows.
If you are interested in Rainbow fish, here are a couple of pictures that might help you.
The first picture has two male Boesemani, two Running Creek Banded Rainbows (Melanotaenia trifasciata), two Turquiose Rainbows (Melanotaenia Lacustris, about 4 months old 3"), two Neon Rainbows (Melanotaenia Praecox), and some Roseline Sharks (Puntius denisonii).
The second is a mature male Boesamani.
They are a wonderful community fish, you just have to have some patience to let them grow, mature, and color up.
