Red rainbows

[Carp890]

Just purchased 6 red rainbows very disappointing, there not red look more like sardines, will they go red in time? Are they all females?what do you think

 

[Colin_T]

Males go red when they become sexually mature, but generally don't show full red over their entire body until they are at least 12 months old. They don't get the deep body until their second year.

Females will remain silvery and turn bronze as they mature. They don't get as high in the body.

If any of them show red in the fins, they are males. females will have no red anywhere on them.

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I'm not sure where you got the fish from but they are a bit skinny and pretty average quality. I would deworm them and treat them for gill flukes. Then feed heaps and see how they look in 3-4 months time.

Make sure half their diet is plant based.

 

[Carp890]

Males go red when they become sexually mature, but generally don't show full red over their entire body until they are at least 12 months old. They don't get the deep body until their second year.

Females will remain silvery and turn bronze as they mature. They don't get as high in the body.

If any of them show red in the fins, they are males. females will have no red anywhere on them.

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I'm not sure where you got the fish from but they are a bit skinny and pretty average quality. I would deworm them and treat them for gill flukes. Then feed heaps and see how they look in 3-4 months time.

Make sure half their diet is plant based.

Thank you

 

[Wills]

Excellent advice from Colin here! I agree they do not look in the best shape - can I ask which shop you got them from? Being from Manchester you have a couple of incredible stores on your doorstep like Abyss and Pier so wouldnt settle if your current LFS is a bit sub par.

If you are not happy with these though I'd also recommend checking out Millenium Rainbowfish - they are a relative of the 'Reds' but they more colourful (still bright red) and stay a bit smaller at 4 inches. Reds can clear 6 inches and I've seen one before that was a good 8.

Wills

 

[Colin_T]

Millenium rainbowfish (Glossolepis pseudoincisus) is also more peaceful than Glossolepis incisus, but they are harder to find.