Red Rainbow Fish

[McCool]

Okay, so I plan on finishing out my stock in my 55 gallon with 6-8 Red rainbows. The only problem I'm seeing is how expensive these little guys are, and honestly I can't afford to buy 8 right now. I was wondering if I could possibly just buy a pair, and try and breed them? I have a small filter I could use, and I could easily buy a 10 or 20 gallon tank. I'd buy them online, but I'm in Texas and our weather is absolutely crazy right now, plus the shipping. How easy are they to breed? Anyone have any experience? I've been researching, and It sounds like something I could do.
Anyone whose bred them before, any advice would be helpful!

 

[Lunar Jetman]

If you're going to keep rainbows you'll ideally need to have at least a 4ft tank. They can get in excess of 5 inches in size and should really be kept in groups of at least 5-6. I really wouldn't recommend keeping just 2 in a small 10-20 gallon tank. Stick to keeping them in the 55 gallon.
 
They're usually bred in groups anyway, although they can be bred with one male and two females, I would suggest getting a group of them so you can find the right ones to select for breeding.

 

[McCool]

If you're going to keep rainbows you'll ideally need to have at least a 4ft tank. They can get in excess of 5 inches in size and should really be kept in groups of at least 5-6. I really wouldn't recommend keeping just 2 in a small 10-20 gallon tank. Stick to keeping them in the 55 gallon.
 
They're usually bred in groups anyway, although they can be bred with one male and two females, I would suggest getting a group of them so you can find the right ones to select for breeding.

The 20 gallon would be very temporary, although instead of a 20 gallon I'm thinking about maybe just a large tub. I've never read anywhere that they were bred in groups....
What I'd do is pretty much buy a pair, and then try and breed them in a filtered tub with live plants. After they are done releasing the eggs into the java moss, the pair will be moved into a friend's 55 gallon. They will be in a 4 foot tank with turquoise and bosemani rainbows. I'll raise the fry and then 8 of them will be moved to my tank once they are old enough, the rest going to my LFS. MY 55 gallon is heavily planted, and my nitrate never goes above 30.