Last winter, a 75g tank containing among others a pair of Melanotaenia boesemani had to be taken apart. Down to extracting the hardscape and sand, a bunch of rainbow fry were seen in the last few inches of water, just over 1 mm in size (and much thinner than that!). This was unexpected, as it was a well-stocked (but also well planted) community tank. Tearing the tank was halted until the babies reached ~5 mm, and then transferred temporarily to my silver dollar tank (my silvers don’t eat even the smallest fish). After some months, the young rainbows were transferred back to their fully re-arranged 75g, and that’s what’s in the pictures below, running for several months now. All in all 37 survived, and they are 1-2 inch now and ~ 8+ months old. Some males and females are clearly evident. You can see in there a headstander, Anostomus anostomus. This fish, which I love although he is much of a jerk, is working well in this tank for several months now. I allowed the rainbows claim the tank for two weeks first, and then introduced him. His ‘jerkness’ was completely neutralized with the activity, such that he can’t bother anybody and I am loving it ! It has been several months and the arrangement seems durable.
Unfortunately, the mother rainbow died a while ago. The father (3+ inch) is shown in the last picture, next to some 6+ inch Hemiodus.
Back to reality, these fish can’t stay here together very much longer and need to be thinned out. They need new homes, which I may have for some. Anybody local and interested in socially-distantly getting some rainbows (no shipping) is welcome to express interest.
Unfortunately, the mother rainbow died a while ago. The father (3+ inch) is shown in the last picture, next to some 6+ inch Hemiodus.
Back to reality, these fish can’t stay here together very much longer and need to be thinned out. They need new homes, which I may have for some. Anybody local and interested in socially-distantly getting some rainbows (no shipping) is welcome to express interest.
