Rainbows and a few other dittys

Hi folks

Just thought I'd ask if anyone has any rainbows suitable for very slightly acidic water?

I'm particularly looking for the following....

1- Dwarf neon rainbows... Looking to breed them in the future, so need unrelated couples. I'm looking for around 5, as I already have one.
2- Banded Rainbows... Again looking for both sexes. Probably 3 or 4?
3- Fork tailed Rainbows... Beautifull! want around 4 to 6 of these!
4- Any other offers/suggestions welcomed.
5- Emporer Tetras... I know they are not rainbows, but wow they are cool! Again i'd like to look to breed them in the future!

well, if anyone can help me, I'd appreciate it! I'm based in Cape Town, so I would like to come view any offered fish, so they must be fairly local to here!

Cheers
Big G!

 

Hi BigG,

I keep a few species of rainbows, but none of them like acid water as they then get bloat and die off rapidly.

Neon rainbows are available regularly in the trade so just keep an eye open at your LFS. They originate from only a few fish in nature as a result of which they are inherently inbred and getting fish from different sources does not really solve the inbreeding problem in this species.

Could you please give us the latin names of the other rainbows that you are looking for as the popular names are used indescriminately and I do not know which ones you are looking for. Have a look at Adrian Tappin's website for better information.

Emporer tets can be quite mean and males will attack each other and shred each others fins. They also appear regularly in LFS.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Hey Dirk! Thanks for the reply!

I'll have a go of the latin names!

M. Trifasciata - I believe there are many variants of this one, but I'm specifically after the heavy black central line with red stripes variant.
M. Maccullochi - Again, i'd prefer the deep red finned version.
M. Werneri - Possibly for a small species aquarium.
Telmatherina Ladigesi - Again maybe for a species aquarium?
Chilatherina Axelrodi - although these may not be so happy in pH of around 6.8?

The fork tail was Pseudomugil furcatus, but I've since found out I misread the pH, and it will only tolerate over 7.5! SO THATS OUT!

The only other one really of interest again for a small species tank would be the australian blue eye - Pseudomugil signifer.

I am fairly new to rainbows and think they are very under rated! They seem to be few and far between in the LFS's! Very limited choice, or poor specimens! Shame really! They are fascinating!

Thanks again, and if anyone sees any decent specimens in any LFS's, please let me know?

Cheers!
Big G!

 

OK BigG,

a quick reply:

M. trifasciata is a beautiful fish. I have imported them before, but have lost my strain unfortunately. They are quite susceptible to fish tuberculosis and I lost mine to this problem.

M maccullochi - I keep two strains, easy to keep, sometimes available in LFS.

M werneri, not easy to keep as they are quite fragile, they do not transport well. They are becoming more and more commonly available but often only males are sold.

Tematherina ladigesi. Its name has actually changed. It comes from Sri Lanka and is not a true Australian rainbow as such. Not too difficult to keep and can be kept with M werneri for example.

Chilatherina axelrodi - definitely unavailable in SA, I am the only one in SA to keep Chilatherina bleheri, a stunning fish, but I lost a lot of mine and am increasing my numbers through breeding at the moment. i should perhaps post a pic of these.

Pseudomugil furcatus - difficult to keep although stunning, they are smaller and need a species tank. Imported into SA quite rarely.

I keep some Pseudomugil signifer. Males quite aggressive but easier to keep.

I also keep two strains of Pseudomugil gertrudae which a really beautiful little stunners, max 2.5 cm.

Of all of these I keep very limited numbers and try to breed them on an ongoing basis. Unfortunately I have none to spare at the moment, but keep in touch and I may be able to help in future.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Hey Dirk!

Thanks again for the wealth of info! Its good to have someone who knows these things, as thats the best way to learn! Books differ too much in their info, and can never quite answer all the questions!

Does anyone know of any books specifically for rainbows?

I would love to see a picture of your Ps. Gertrudae! I've not seen that one!

I have found 2 M. Trifasciata's that I think are male and female, but they are still a little too small to tell for sure? I'm going to hopefully buy them once pay day arrives? Hope they are still there!

I would be very interested in popping by at some point to see your rainbows if that would be ok? I've also been recommended your plant fertalizers, so I could get some of that while I'm there if you still have some?

Thanks again
Big G!

 

Hi BigG,

There are no good books in rainbows as far as I know, but Adrian Tappins website has a host of information.

This is a pic of Ps gertrudae

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6647/dscn1902crop.jpg

The so-called M trifasciata are normally hybrids and are a complete dissappointment in relation to the real thing. This is a pic of some of mine, that have unfortunately passed on....

http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn0116c.jpg


You would be welcome to come and visit sometime.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

I have put some pics of rainbows in my album but here are some to whet your appetite:



Pseudomugil gertrudae - yellow finned variety



Melanotaenia trifasciata "Goyder River"



Bleher's rainbowfish - Chilatherina bleheri

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Hey Dirk!

That truly has wet my appetite! I'm really liking that Ps. Gertrudae! I've gotta get me some of them! Where on cape town earth will I find some?

I could also do with a few Boesmani females, i'm pretty sure my three are males, but this is one fish i don't know how to tell apart?

One other fish I'm unsuccessfully looking for is the banded kuhli loach. Everywhere i look it is only the black kuhli. Is there any reason for this? Is it just a suppliers problem?

Anyhow, back to the rainbows...

You mentioned that M. Trifasciata is usually a hybrid, but what is it a hybrid of? The markings on the two I have seen are quite strong even tho they are around the 1.5 to 2 inch mark. The one I suspect to be a female is smaller and not quite as bright as the other, but the larger one is almost definately a male!

I've also found a pair of celebes - T. Ladigesi (or whatever its new name is?), but again I'm unsure whether one is male or female, but there is defo one male. I'll have a good look at them again and see how I go?

Cheers again, I'll send you a PM next week to arrange a time to come visit!

big G!

 

Big G,

If you would have looked in the thread earlier, you may have seen that I mentioned that I keep two strains of M gertrudae. I have too few of both strains to be able to sell any at the moment though, so you will have to wait a while. Andre Costerus also has the one strain and may have some though.

I have never seen M trifasciata as on my pic or of any of the recognized strains for sale in SA. What I have seen are fishes that remind one of M trifasciata but which do not have any of the brilliant coloration.

What I have seen repeatedly, are M herbertaxelrodi, but again the suppliers do not know them by that name. They call them Lake Tabeta rainbows which is where the M herbertaxelrodi come from. If you look at pics on the web of M herbertaxelrodi on the web, what is sold here also does not seem to be the real thing either, so I do not trust what is offered here at all.

It is well known that Melanotaenia rainbows hybridize with ease and there are definitely hybrids that are imported so this is what you may have seen.

Sexing rainbows is easy. Rainbows have double dorsal fins. The second dorsal and the ventral fin in males is pointed and in females is rounded. Also in males the first dorsal is longer and is long enough to touch the second dorsal, in females it is shorter and does not touch the second dorsal.

I do not keep boesemannis, but the females are always smaller and are often just grey in colour, and the fin differences also apply.

The female T ladigesi have no yellow coloration whatsoever, so they are easy to sex.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Thanks Dirk! Thats very helpful!

I did notice that you keep two strains of Ps. Gertrudae, and I also noted that you have too few to spare at this point, hence my question as to where I can source some? I would be most interested in them should you have enough to part with in the future?

I'll try and post some pics next week of the possible M. Trifasciata to see what you make of them?

Thanks again for all your help!
Regards
Big G!