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Hi I would like to get some rainbowfish I know they have to kept in a group of at least 6 but would it be ok if I was to get 2 of each colour? or do they have to be all the same colour? and also if this was ok would it be ok to have all males? I did once have 3 blue and 3 Boeseman's and they all seemed to get along together but their was a female for each colour. Any advice on these fish would be helpful many thanks

http://www.greenspersonalprinting.com/

It is okay to own all male rainbows, but in my opinion it is best to mix up the sexes with these fish, and have a few males and a few females.

You can easily mix rainbowfish species together with little to no hassle. I would recommend though, that you keep at a minimum of 4 (preferably 6) of each species that you keep.

-- Gomer

Thanks Gomer given what you have said I will go for 2 groups of colour then them being reds and blues but how many do you think I could get in a 42uk gallons which I believe is 50us gallons. It measures 120cm X 40cm X 40cm. I have in there at the moment 5 giant danio, 1 swordtail, 2 dwarf honey Gouramies, 1 dwarf coral blue gouramie, 2 pictus cats and a pleco I do plan on getting some corys and some congo tetra and if there is any room left after the rainbows perhaps 1 moonlight gouramie and 1 pearl gouramie but I am doubting there will be room for the latter 2. Cheers

http://www.greenspersonalprinting.com/

Sorry but if you get the Congo's I don't think you'll have any room for the Rainbows let alone the gouramis ! Congo's are a big active fish that need to be in a school otherwise they are going to be very timid.

Also depends what rainbows you are thinking of, most get past the 4" mark. You could try some of the smaller ones. Neon Dwarves (Praecox) get to about 2 inches, or Threadfin which are smaller again.

Rainbows are very active swimmers and need a lot of room. With Giant Danios , Congos and Rainbows in a 46g there's going to be abit of a traffic jam.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Ok ben i will have another re-think thanks for your advice

http://www.greenspersonalprinting.com/

All rainbowfish will hang out together without problems but different species will not school together so you do need full groups of each species to make them comfortable. Mixing groups of different species (in a big enough tank) makes a great display. I have a 125G (6ft long) tank with 7 G. Incisus (Red), 7 Boesemani and 6 M. Lacustris (Turquoise). Its not easy to explain, they stay with their own school but all three schools stay in the same area. Short answer, you do get a mixture of colors in a normal situation but when unsure of the situation they break off into groups. Rainbowfish are loose shoaling fish (not tight schooling fish) anyway so it looks like they are all schoaling together. They all get along great though, no gang rumbles or anything like that.

thanks for that info steve it was very intresting cheers

http://www.greenspersonalprinting.com/

IMO, you could either get a nice school of 8 or so Congo Tetras OR two small schools of Neon and Red Rainbowfish, with 5 or 6 of each and this would nicely stock your aquarium.

-- Gomer

I have five congo tetras and they are one of the most brave fish in the tank. When I am not moving some of the plants, they are more brave then my younge rainbows. If you give them plenty of plants, then they will be brave.
I think that you should get
6 congo tetras (3 male/3 female)
5-6 M. lacustris
6 cories
and a school of a large tetra (eg Black tetras)
In my opinion when there are more plants and a slightly higher than recommended population the congo tetras feel secure. Just make sure that you have a sufficient oxygen.