Single Boseman Rainbow and Pristilla Tetras. Stress? Agression?

[Akysten]

I've got 1 Boseman Rainbow, 1 Red Raibow(both young and rather small.. but great colors). I've also got 6 Pristilla Tetras. This is a 60 gallon tank(a taller 55).

My issue is that at this time, it's sparsely planted. There is one Amazon sword in the corner that the tetras seem to spend all their time around. When the rainbows come around, particularly the Boseman, the tetras scurry through the plant.. that's all they do.. back and forth in the leaves of the plant.

I'm curious... The rainbows are FAST and cruise the entire tank. I don't think the Rainbows are doing harm, more that the Tetras fear them.
Should I give them time? Should I add another Rainbow, or possibly another small school to split the attention of the Rainbows? It's just a shame that with a 48" tank that you have 6 fish trying to swim in a 8"x8" area. They venture out for food, but not far.

 

[mduros]

Please get more rainbows of the same type. What you have are three different schooling fish. The pristellas are fine with a group of 6. But both the boesemani's and red (I would guess a new guinea rainbow) need to be in schools as well. Maybe 3 more boes and 3 more new guineas? Ideally, you'd want a group of 5 - 6 of each. The other problem you MIGHT be running into is that both the pristellas and rainbows are mid-level swimmers, I think. That just means that is the part of the tank they will stick to, leaving the bottom and top alone. This is a problem I ran into when first setting up my tank that I had no clue about. Anyhow, do get some more rainbows for their physical and mental well being. Roan Art should be around shortly to give you more advice. She's the Queen of the Rainbows!
Take care,
Mary.

 

[Akysten]

Thanks,

The tetras are at the bottom though, because the Amazon Sword is about 8 inches high... the tank is 24 inches deep! Just doesn't look right. There is plenty of room in the tank for everyone.

The rainbows are all over the pace, but mostly middle and bottom, and the New Guinea and Boseman look to swim together, they follow each other around. They came from the same tank at the LFS... I had considered a second Boseman, but the owner of the shop pointed out this Red was brilliant.. great color for his age.

 

[Akysten]

Here is a photo of the situation. Rainbow above, below, you see 6 tetras.. and they just hover there, occasionally darting between the leaves of the sword.

 

[mduros]

That's what I figured. There are "red rainbowfish" but I know that places often keep boes and new guinea's together probably because of the size similarity and they will tend to shoal together, too. But I do think you need more, no matter what you have. Put some more plants in, too. My pristellas were okay with my rainbows, but I have a 55 gallon that is longer rather than higher. I moved the pristellas out into a 29 gallon tank a few months ago though to give the rainbows more room and make a great big happy tetra shoal in the 29 gallon. I have pristellas, red eyes, and bleeding hearts in there. The rainbows are extremely active fish and will sometimes make calmer fish uneasy. Anyhow, good luck. And like I said, other people will give you advice, too.
Take care,
Mary.

 

[mduros]

Here is a photo of the situation. Rainbow above, below, you see 6 tetras.. and they just hover there, occasionally darting between the leaves of the sword.

Great tank! Great pic! Hate to tell you... Those pristellas look perfectly normal to me and are doing what my pristellas do, keep to themselves... They're very pretty fish and I know you'd love to see them swimming around more, but it looks to me like they are perfectly happy doing what they do... Hanging out together!
Take care,
Mary.

 

[Akysten]

Thanks, well, they just sit there. I'm going to give them more plants... I'm also going to consider a 29g tank for fish like this. Not everything is going to work out. I like so many tetras.. Bleeding Hearts, Emperor, Pristilla, Lemon... and Congo, though they may look good, and get along with the rainbows.


As long and their happy.

As for the person that mentioned the 55g that's longer rather than higher... I'm not aware of that size, unless it's a not standard sized tank.

 

[Roan Art]

The reason the Irian and the Boeseman are schooling is because they have no choice. They won't school together if there are enough of each species and they really need to be in schools of at least six of the same kind.

I'm afraid any tetra you put in that tank will not be happy. Tetras and rainbowfish just do not mix. Rainbows are far too big and active and your tetras will just hide all the time. Those bows, btw, the Boeseman will grow to 4-5" and the Irian 6", assuming they live more than a year.

If you like tetras that much, please consider taking the rainbowfish back and stocking your tank with tetras instead.

Also, the 55 as cited is a standard size of 48x13. A 65 is 36x18x24, it's not a "taller 55" at all. It has a much shorter length than a 55 does and is 4" taller. There's less room for small to medium sized schooling fish in a 65g than in a 55g.

Roan

 

[Akysten]

I think I've got it... It's too bright!
I've got lots of lighting because I want a planted tank... The Rainbows don't care, but they don't swim too close to the light, they like to stay midway down. I've got 4 28w t5 bulbs! 2 are full color(which brings out the colors of the fish) but the plant light really drowns out the effect.

I have two units, if I disconnect the Plant light, and just go with the single 28w, It's got a much more subdued look to the tank, the fish appear to glow, and the Rainbows swim higher.... the Tetras are still at the bottom, but they start to explore, they swim in and out of the caves that are occupied by the clown loaches.

They like the sword because it gives shade.

This is a catch 22, if I turn off the plan lights, they won't grow.. perhaps if I had enough plants, it wouldn't be an issue. For viewing, and when guests are over, I'm going with the more subdued look.

I'm thinking about 2 timers... the plant lamp will come on an hour or so after and shut off before the colormax lamp(of lower wattage). This may give the effect of dawn and dusk? Just an idea.

 

[Akysten]

Tetra? Take back the Rainbows.. shoot, Rainbows are THE reason I bought the tank. My PLAN was to run several schools of Rainbows with a few other fish(Rasboras?) and perhaps a couple clown loaches.
When WE bought this tank, we agreed to work on it together(negotiation is the ONLY way I got a 60 gallon through the front door) This involves letting her pick fish that she wants... This was the lesser of the three evils... The other who are Tiger Barbs and Kissing Gouriamis. Actually, with Rainbows, the Barbs would probably be OK. Still, the tetras seem to be doing better with subdued lighting.

The worse is yet to come, she's insisting that her Parents will take our two year old out next month(when they visit from out of town) and pick out two fish. She doesn't want me to restrict their choice in ANY way. I have this fear of them coming back with a Discus or a African Cichlid or two... money is not an issue with them. I'm going to have to sneak my father in law a list of "approved" fish.