Rainbow Cichlids

[duanes]

I also agree that other cichlids would not be a good mix.
Some geographically correct live bearers, or more of their own species would be more apropos, and afford a dither kind of comfort to the multispinnossa.

 

[duanes]

I also agree that other cichlids would not be a good mix.
Some geographically correct live bearers, or more of their own species would be more apropos, and afford a dither kind of comfort to the multispinnossa.

 

[Etan]

Thanks guys, I'm going to get 3 or 4 more. I have 5 columbian tetras but what would be geo correct for livebearers. I have never kept livebearers Would the cichlids and other livebearers do a good job of keeping their fry in check?

 

[Toiletcar]

Thanks guys, I'm going to get 3 or 4 more. I have 5 columbian tetras but what would be geo correct for livebearers. I have never kept livebearers Would the cichlids and other livebearers do a good job of keeping their fry in check?

To my knowledge, there is only one livebarer that will keep fry in check and their range goes as far south at Costa Rica. This would be the pike livebarer or Belonesox belizanus.
I am not 100% sure, but I think they only accept live food. That means they would need feeders until your fish breed. They are ambush predators. I included a pic found on Google.
There are tetras geographically correct that might be harder to find-astyanax aeneus. Astyanax tetra species are a common predator of cichlid fry. They eat just about any food offered too. Finding any astyanax tetra species is tough in the U.S.
Another option is to sell the fry or donate to a LFS.

 

[neutrino]

To my knowledge, there is only one livebarer that will keep fry in check and their range goes as far south at Costa Rica. This would be the pike livebarer or Belonesox belizanus.
I am not 100% sure, but I think they only accept live food. That means they would need feeders until your fish breed. They are ambush predators. I included a pic found on Google.
There are tetras geographically correct that might be harder to find-astyanax aeneus. Astyanax tetra species are a common predator of cichlid fry. They eat just about any food offered too. Finding any astyanax tetra species is tough in the U.S.
Another option is to sell the fry or donate to a LFS.
View attachment 1272328

Interesting fish, a new one on me... looks like some sort of mini-me muskee.

 

[Etan]

Wow very cool. Unfortunately I'm about 90 miles away from my nearest decent LFS and there are no guarentees they would take them. Guess my next option is to setup another tank.

 

[Toiletcar]

Interesting fish, a new one on me... looks like some sort of mini-me muskee.

They are neat fish. I would keep them myself, but I don't want to bother with feeders.
There are also ferel populations in FL.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Poecilla Gilli and brachyraphys species can be found living with multispinosa in the wild.
In a community I doubt many fry would survive without separation from the keeper.
I have seen brachyraphys on rapps list from time to time.
Rhamdia guatemalensis catfish can also be found in these areas but may eat livebearers.They would definitely clean up any fry at night time.

 

[duanes]

Agree with Stanzzzz any of the sailfish mollies (gilli etc), mosquito fish, and/or Merry widow livebearers would work, be geographically correct, and may even be found in LFSs. Belonesox would be geographically correct, but unless your tank is very large, they tend to be aggressive with each other and any other fish they can swallow. Astyanex tetras are also very nippy and may tend to reduce fin trailers of the rainbows.
If you have a group of rainbows, they tend to reduce each others spawns drastically, even in my 400 gal kiddy pool, with 7 pairs, fry would usually not make it long unless I scooped them out. When I kept rainbows in the kiddy pool, there were no other species of fish.

 

[Etan]

Thanks. Right now there are 6 columbian tetras, 3 rainbows and 5 corys. As of now I plan on adding 3 or 4 rainbows and more cories. Trying to decide if i get more columbians, ditch the columbians for mollies or just add mollies.