Compatibilty

[andyG44]

I am planning need to add a few fish to the large aquarium (4ft - 350lt). I am thinking of the following:

2 Boesmani Rainbow
2 Turquiose Rainbow
1 Red Rainbow
2 Dwarf Neon Rainbow

In the guide it says to keep them in groups of 3s at least, so I have 7 here - is that OK? Or do they mean 3 of each kind?
 

 

[fluttermoth]

Rainbow fish are shoalers, so you really want at least six of the same species.

While many shoalers will shoal with other species, this is out of an evolved need to shoal, and is not best for the fish.

 

[Baccus]

They probably meant 3 minimum of each kind, since even though they are all in the same family they wont have to cohesion that a school of all one type would display. Even in the wild if the species all lived in the same area and occasionally mingled you would still find them pretty much remaining close to others of their own kind.

 

[Wills]

I agree with the above two posts, of the species you mentioned there I would go for the Bosmani and the Dwarf Neon Rainbows. Personally I think the Reds get a bit too big and active for a 4 foot tank where as the Bosmani and Turquoise dont get quite as chunky as the Reds. The Turquoise would be an option but I thought the Bosmani would work nicely agains the Neon Blues as they add an extra colour. If the tank is dedicated to the Rainbows I would do 8 of the larger and 10 of the dwarfs You could look at doing something like a group of Upside Down Catfish (S.Nigriventus) and maybe one or two smaller cichlids like African Butterfly Cichlids or Kribs.
 
Wills

 

[Byron]

I would not recommend mixing rainbows, as there are significant variations in water parameters (temperature, and hardness to a lesser extent).
 
Melanotaenia boesemani is a true tropical, and temperature should be in the range of 27-30C/81-86F.  With respect to hardness, this species generally does not do well in soft and acidic water.  By contrast, M. praecox (Dwarf Neon Rainbow) will not last at such warm temperatures, preferring a range of 24-25C/74-77F for long-term maintenance but a bit higher for breeding.  This species is more suited to soft slightly acidic water.
 
Having said that, tankmates obviously will be limited by the temperatures depending upon the species selected.
 
Byron.