Rainbowfish

Amy Tokic
by Amy Tokic
fast facts

About Rainbowfish

Temperament
Non-aggressive
Group
Freshwater
Size
Small
Aquarium Size
Medium (30 gal)
Swimming Region
All
Fish Water Condition
Varies depending on species
Suitable Tank Mates
Tetras, Guppies, Swordtails, Platys, Mollies
Difficulty Of Care
Weekly care
General description


Rainbowfish are a family of small freshwater fish that get their name from their bright, iridescent colorations that change shades in different light settings. In recent times rainbowfish have started to gain popularity amongst aquarists for both their beauty and relatively hardy nature. They are also a relatively small species of aquarium fish with most species reaching only a couple of inches in length. In fact, the largest species of rainbowfish only reaches around 8 inches in length. Rainbowfish are an extremely peaceful species of fish and make excellent additions to community aquariums.


Rainbowfish are a family of small freshwater fish that get their name from their bright, iridescent colorations that change shades in different light settings.


Origins


Rainbowfish are native to northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea and certain regions of Southeast Asia.


Color


Rainbows come in a variety of colors ranging from red, blue, yellow, silver and black.


Maintenance and care

In their natural habitat rainbowfish inhibit rivers and streams with heavy plant growth. These conditions should be recreated in a heavily planted aquarium with several open spaces left for these highly energetic fish to swim freely. Rainbowfish are a schooling species and thrive when kept in large shoals of 10 fish or more. When kept in small groups or by themselves, rainbows can be very timid and tend to lose their bright colorations due to stress. The exact water conditions that the rainbowfish require vary according to the species and their natural habitats, but most species are relatively hardy and can adapt to a wide array of water conditions.


Rainbowfish are also extremely peaceful and make excellent tank mates for most small, non aggressive species of aquarium fish. They shouldn’t be kept with more aggressive and assertive tank mates that may harass them or out-compete them for food.


Feeding


Rainbowfish are omnivores and can be fed on a varied diet of flake based foods and live foods such as bloodworms, blackworms and glassworms.


Rainbowfish are a schooling species and thrive when kept in large shoals of 10 fish or more.


Breeding


While the individual breeding habits of different species may vary, rainbowfish as a family are usually prolific breeders. Given adequate nourishment and clean water conditions, they will often spawn quite readily in the aquarium. It is however recommended that spawning females be removed to heavily planted breeding tanks because of their tendency to eat their own eggs and fry on sight. The fry too are relatively slow growing and need to be fed on a diet of infusoria or vinegar eels until they are able to accept larger types of food.


Aquarium varieties


Bosemani Rainbow, Praecox Rainbow, Threadfin Rainbow, Eastern Rainbow, Celebes Rainbow, Turquoise Rainbow, Australian Rainbow, etc.


Photo credit: Eileen Kortright/Wikimedia; Thomas Gräfe/Wikimedia

Amy Tokic
Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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