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Which Rainbowfish grow to a larger size suitable for a cichlid tank? (340 gallons)

What kind of cichlids do you plan to have them with. I know some of larger ones are can be checkered, parkonsons, and some of the austrailians. These ones grow 6 inches. I am not sure of all the species but these are a few.

No rainbowfish will hang with an angry chiclid toe-to-toe. They can be kept with them because they are active, fast and athletic swimmers. They can avoid the chiclid's advances. My point is any of the larger rainbowfish would stand an equal chance. The absolute biggest doesn't have a real advantage over the other large rainbows. Anyway, here is a short list of common (readily available), hardy and larger rainbows.

The biggest:
Glossolepis incisus (Red Rainbowfish) - Beautiful bright red color with a silver tint underneath the red. Can grow to 6 inches. They are tough, fast and a little fiesty by rainbow standards. although somewhat sensitive to water conditions.

G. multisquamatus - A little harder to find than G. incisus and a little smaller but similar in other ways and multicolored.

Melanotaenia trifasciata - Regal rainbowfish also refered to as the banded rainbowfish. Will grow to 6" and is very deep bodied. There are different color variations. I prefer the Godyor River variation which has bright red fins and a black horizontal line.

I don't have any experience with Parkinson's rainbowfish (M. parkinsoni) or Chequered (M. splendida inornata) but they both do grow to 6" and might be worth checking out.

A little smaller:

Chilatherina Bleheri - Bleher's rainbowfish can grow as large as the others already mentioned but usually stays smaller. It's an attractive, athletic fish.

M. s. splendida - This is what is usually sold as the "Australian Rainbowfish." Not as colorful as the others but grows relatively large (4 - 5 inches) and is very hardy.

M. Boesemani - May work once full grown. They can reach 6" supposedly although I have my doubts. I've rarely seen one much bigger than 4 inches (although I have seen them up to 5inches) They are tough fish and strong swimmers. I wouldn't use them for this purpose though because they are very slow growing. It takes a while for them to reach any real size.

There are others but these are the ones you will be able to find the easiest. Two more that might get pushed on you by a salesman are the turquoise (M. lacustris) and the emerald (G. wanamensis). Both are great fish and among the most colorful rainbows but both are smaller, topping out under 4", and not as atheletic as the others. Probably not good for a chiclid tank.

I hope this helps. Personally, I would go with the G. incisus or the Goydor River variation of M. trifasciata. Both are strong and big enough to do well. The only tie breaker may be that the incisus have a little more attitude.



Last edited by steve at 30-Dec-2004 11:00

Last edited by steve at 30-Dec-2004 11:02

Thanks a lot for the information

Here is the list of the (future) tank inhabitants, i hope to add the schooling fish first to allow them to size up and get comfortable and then introduce the BIG BOYS as juvies. I'm currently working on the tank (built in wall project) what do you think, will the rainbows work?

340 gallon cichlid tank

1 Escondido Texas Cichlid (male)
1 Gold Saum Green Terror (male)
1 Vieja synspila (male)
5 Firemouths (3 male, 2 female)
1 Clown Catfish
5 Clown Loaches

I don't have a lot of experience with cichlids other than Kribs. (the dwarf rainbows work fine with them) I have heard many different sources say that rainbows work well with the larger cichlids though. I don't have any trouble believing it either. Rainbows are upper/mid level fish that are very athletic and constantly on the go. I doubt they would hang out in any cichlid territories long enough to get beat up. I'd bet it will work fine for you but I don't have real experience trying it.

Boesami's do grow to be quite large, esp. the Males, 6 inches is not unusual in good conditions.

I've yet to see a Splendida about 5 inches.