Rainbows

[Steelviper]

Hey guys and gals. I have a question. I have heard that many rainbows require some salt in there water. I know most rainbows require or like hard water.(high ph) I would like to keep some Melanotaenia praecox(Dwarf Neon Rainbows) Can these rainbows be keep in a brackish water aquarium? Or are they strictly freshwater?


thanks

mark

 

[nmonks]

No rainbowfish requires salt in the water. All will do well in neutral, moderately hard water. A few come from quite soft water, but most of the popular New Guinean species (like Melanotaenia boesemani and Glossolepis incisus) actually prefer hard water. But none need salt. To the best of my knowledge, only a single Melanotaenia species inhabits brackish water, M. nigrans, and even then, it is more a freshwater fish that ranges into slightly brackish conditions.

On the other hand, many rainbows (particularly the New Guinean species, but also some of the hardy Australian species) will tolerate slightly brackish conditions well. They will thrive at SG 1.003 if carefully adjusted rather than just thrown in. As such, you could mix them with species that need only slightly saline conditions, for example many gobies.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Steelviper]

Thank you for the info Neale.

No rainbowfish requires salt in the water. All will do well in neutral, moderately hard water. A few come from quite soft water, but most of the popular New Guinean species (like Melanotaenia boesemani and Glossolepis incisus) actually prefer hard water. But none need salt. To the best of by knowledge, only a single Melanotaenia species inhabits brackish water, M. nigrans, and even then, it is more a freshwater fish that ranges into slightly brackish conditions.

On the other hand, many rainbows (particularly the New Guinean species, but also some of the hardy Australian species) will tolerate slightly brackish conditions well. They will thrive at SG 1.003 if carefully adjusted rather than just thrown in. As such, you could mix them with species that need only slightly saline conditions, for example many gobies.

Cheers, Neale

 

[nmonks]

Happy to help!

Neale

Thank you for the info Neale.