How To Be Successful With Rainbow Fish

[@datboi7599]

First time rainbow keeper here. I have a 75 gallon with a community tank, sporting 6 male rainbows as as the centerpiece fish. I have two of each breed, emerald, millennium red, and turquoise. Very fun breed but certainly missing the females to get those colors booming, although, they are still very colorful for fresh water, especially the millenniums.

[@suzettepascal3357]

Thanks!

[@BentleyPascoe]

Thank you so much!

[@skipsnapdoesfish8457]

I have a 75 gallon with 17 rainbowfish, 4 angels and 6 Congo’s. It seems overstocked but honestly because of weekly water changes, a boatload of plants and one hell of a filtration system it works well. Can’t recommend these guys enough

[@bobpurcell3814]

Love seeing team thick behind you in the video! You named them well.

[@Beccs410]

Great things to think about as I set up my 60 breeder for some rainbows! Sounds like the footprint will be perfect for them! Definitely going to make sure it's heavily planted, but with lots of swimming space, just like all of my tanks. Can't have tanks without a ton of plants! Thanks for all of the great info, Bentley!

[@leo2o915]

Bentley is the rainbow fish whisperer

[@mangala666]

I love how, even though I’m not that interested in rainbow fish, it’s still fun and interesting to hear people really geek out over them. Thank you for speaking on a topic I don’t know much about.

[@hermosafish]

Just discovered Rainbows yesterday. Bought five. Absolutely beautiful. I'm going to set up a 75 or 90 gallon just for Rainbows.

[@tech044]

Stocking ideas for a 220 6ft rainbow planted tank

[@BentleyPascoe]

You have tons of options. It depends on whether you want a larger group of only one to two species or whether you would like to have a big mixed group. Also kind of depends on what colors you prefer in your fish. So as an example, kind of a classic tank to me would be a large group of Boesemani, say 12 or so fish, and then a group of Chilatherina Bleheri. This gives you a fish with some kind of more pastel orange and green in the Bleheri, then that bright reddish, orange and blue that you would find in the Boesemani. You can also do a large group of a single species to see better behavior out of that fish. As an example, you could do the dwarf neon rainbow, Melanotaenia Praecox, in huge numbers because it's a smaller fish. So you could have a group of like 30 of these fish mixed boys and girls and get this really cool. Big school behavior that you otherwise would not see. Or if you want to go slightly larger fish you can look at something like the turquoise rainbow and get something like 20 of them and have one massive group. Just enjoying the tank!

[@tech044]

I would say I want to start with 2 unsexed types and grow them in the tank. The plan is to re do the tank plant/ scape it let run for while then stock it down the road after get the planted part uncontrolled going from larger haps to a rainbow tank

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@tech044 I would pair two different genus, so like 1 Melanotaenia and 1 Chilatherina or 1 glossolepis.

[@tracyramsey2976]

I’m just starting with rainbows- I have thread-fin and Gertrude’s. I’m really enjoying the smaller rainbows. Any tips?

[@christykerekes3788]

I appreciate the detail you went into with this video, and really all of your videos! I currently have 6 Pseudomugil Furcatas in a 32.5 Fluval Flex tank and they seem to be doing well, however, I haven't been seeing any fry for the past couple of weeks so I thought I'd watch your video to see if Im possibly doing less than I should be. I'm on track for the most part, but I need to do better in terms of giving a variety of foods. I also may decide to turn the temp down from 79 to 76 and see if this is helpful. I have yet to be successful at raising the fry, I saw your video on breeding (absolutely detailed and 5 star FYI) but I'm not sure I am able to re-create what you had going on. I suppose effort is key so this will be my next goal because I love watching them dart around the tank and would love to breed them myself! Keep making videos! Love how yours are mostly informational, everyone else is mostly aquascaping which is fine but I need to know details on keeping these babies happy first lol.

[@BentleyPascoe]

You don't have to perfectly replicate. A specimen container with a very gentle airstone does a lot to get them hatched. It can sit inside the tank for temp. You can also use something like the ziss breeder box

[@christykerekes3788]

@@BentleyPascoe the same night i commented this, I found a baby swimming in the tank! I haven't seen it today... Hoping it hasn't become food for the adults lol. I plan to look into the Ziss breeder box and might even get a DIY brine shrimp hatchery going🤌 thanks for the advice!😊

[@Brackish_Babe]

So I have a 50 gallon that I'm waiting to stock and I ended up with six mystery fry in my bettas fluval 9 gallon that I have sitting in a breeder. I'm pretty sure they hitchhiked on some plants. It's been about a month and a half and I'm pretty sure they're rainbow fish so my stocking for my 50 gallon has already been determined for me lol It's rainbow fish time

[@RogueAquariums]

My favorite freshwater fish! Some great tips for optimal care and longevity of these awesome fish.

[@ShamuAquatics]

I just got 3 boesemanis and 2 turquoise. I might add a couple more boesemanis since the ones I have are only an inch and a half long so I might grab a couple more colorful ones that are 2 1/2 inches.

[@brucebogtrotter8616]

I have about 60 crimson spotted rainbow fish in my tank with 4 firemouth. It's my favourite tank . I caught them in my local creek.

[@BentleyPascoe]

Sounds like a pretty amazing tank to watch!

[@jackwilliamson6018]

my tank is 4 yrs old now, still original fill water with top-offs. planted, 4 fish in tank

[@duncanhill6854]

Is it required to have a lid? I hear they jump but is it absolutely mandatory in my densely planted tank?

[@tamarabaug8366]

ty for this. our water changed from soft to hard over the years. my 75 g I have had setup as a tetra tank with sterbai corries, btristlnose and some swordfish. Did angels years ago too. but since our water is now on the high end of pH I want fish that will thrive in it instead of survive.

[@AquariumAficionado]

Perfect breakdown for the caring of Rainbowfish 👍👍👍 I’ve had them for about 3+ years now It all started with an adult boesmani male in the display tank at the LFS. You can check him out on my channel. Saw it and had to have it. Set up a 55G tank cycled it a bit then bought him and a few others. Spent so much getting into hobby and continue to but it’s all worth it to me

[@tonye8019]

Thanks for all the information

[@HappyOne2017]

I just set up a 45 gallon planted tank. How many rainbow fish could I put in it? I'm also going to put a school of Corydoras in it 😊 Thank you

[@touger9759]

Thats the first time I've heard "battleshipping", I like it haha. Congo Tetras are are another species that look really good doing that with their color and cool fins. Got 16 of em in their own 75gal and are currently my favorite fish in the house.

[@mattdowling955]

Thanks for this video. I've been keeping fish for years but have really attempted to improve my knowledge in the last 2 years, and along with that has come interest into new types of fish. And rainbows are right up there on my must do list and I want them now 😄 most of my tanks are too small though. Except my display tank of tetras. So I'm planning to rehome those little legends to start my first rainbow tank. I generally prefer larger groups of single fish and thinking dwarf neons. However I do love bosmani also and there's a plethora others still I just don't remember by name 😄 (yet)

[@andicarson1339]

I'm considering rainbows. I have no idea which one. The more I look into them, the more varieties I am discovering. 🤯 The largest tank I have is a 55 (not yet setup). I still have some research to do. Thanks for the vid!

[@JB-dd2qw]

Do Rainbow fish like flow?

[@GuppyDundee]

50% is extreme especially in a planted tank plus isn't it? We live in Australia and I haven't seen this . Maybe if it's stocked heavily fish.

[@mrchard40]

My tank is about 3 feet wide, but 45 gallon. I have 3 rainbows, two small, and one big Australian rainbow. He pretty much stays in one place. Sooo, I'm not sure what to do with him. I kinda wish he had more room. But, what can I do now?? I don't wanna give him up.

[@legionaquatics]

Great video 👍 I’m probably gonna set up a 75 gallon rainbow fish tank in the future so this helps!

[@mannyruseriousfriday171]

amazing information thank you i have a question when you say small water changes every few days does this also mean gravel clean as well

[@BentleyPascoe]

Not always. Gravel vacuuming isn't necessarily something you have to do. Every time you do a water change. You could do this something like every couple of weeks and be okay, especially if you have a good amount of plants in your tank. Now if you don't have live plants, I would certainly vacuum more often something like once a week.

[@deepcrows]

What would be a good number of praecox in a 40 breeder?

[@BentleyPascoe]

10-12. Just make sure with any plants or decorations you leave a good amount of mid water and upper water swim space for them

[@sarahroach6219]

How many Rainbowfish can you put in a 55 gallon tank? I currently have 2 Boesemani rainbows male and female. 4 turquoise rainbows their still small. I believe I have 2 males 2 females and I have 2 dwarf neon rainbows. I’m hoping to get a few more Boesemani but not sure on my limit as I do have other fish in the tank as well, 3 Clown loaches Corey’s , cardinal tetras, 1 Pleco. Any help would be great thanks.

[@BentleyPascoe]

This depends a lot on your filtration amount of plants and how often you're doing water changes. If we're going to account for the full size of these fish are going to get over their lifetime. I probably wouldn't add too many more rainbows except perhaps the dwarf neon because they stay small. Keep in mind that your Bozeman I are going to get three and a half to four inches in length each and your turquoise will get a similar if not slightly larger size

[@sarahroach6219]

@@BentleyPascoe ahhh ok. So I have a good filter I have a Fluval 307 cannister filter. Now I don’t have any live plants in the tank atm. I’ve only had my tank for just over a year so I’m still new to the fish hobby.

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@sarahroach6219 I would keep as is, let them grow out and get a feel for how active they are. Rainbow is really like extra swim space. One thing that can happen when we add too many rainbows into a tank is they kind of all fight each other for that swim space and it starts causing some crowding issues and then that can lead to potential for health issues within the fish.

[@luiscarlosherreramarroquin2065]

Well my tap water comes with 80ppm thanks to the hillstream near to my zone, do you Know some rainbow fish with this kind of parameters?

[@mrchard40]

My place is always about 78 degrees, so I don't really need a heater, do I??

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@mrchard40 unlikely unless you keep discus or rams which want to be 83-86 typically

[@clintondarby5922]

I too Love Rainbow Fish! you just became my favorite Aquarium youtuber! I have Bosmani and Praecox. The first time I saw the Praecox do his mating dance/color flash it was magical! I was hooked! I keep my tank at 77-78, thinking i might back it down to 76-77. When you mentioned fasting - is that after a heavy protein meal or in general? I usually feed frozen brine or daphnia once a week.

[@BentleyPascoe]

I like doing once a week fasts in general. It helps them handle a weekend away without food too

[@gfamily1943]

I couldn't keep celebes alive. Sad because I love them! Have forktails successfully. Not sure what happened 😕

[@SlickNick3]

Celebes rainbows are cool looking fish I saw a nice group at my lfs but didn’t have an aquarium large enough to keep them.

[@TheSeverum]

Love this info!

[@k0olmini11]

So I live in California with liquid rock, you talk about this being an exception. Is this to replenish the minerals?

[@pokescape98]

How many should be kept together?

[@BentleyPascoe]

They are a social, schooling fish. Usually at least 6, depends on tank size

[@southernlady1984]

Condundrum here hoping that you can help out with my rainbow tank. My substrated planted rainbow tank has naturally ph around 7.6. My water is naturally soft around Gh 71.6 and Kh 89.5. How can I raise the hardness w/out raising the ph?? Thanks!

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@southernlady1984 any time we raise kH we will raise some pH. I would try adding small amounts of crushed Coral. A small change in pH shouldn't cause a problem as rainbows are pretty adaptable.

[@GuppyDundee]

Bentley have you got pacific blue eyes. ? I have a school 30 with my rainbowfish

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@GuppyDundee I do not.

[@SlickNick3]

I can’t wait to be able to keep my first rainbows! Waiting until I get a 75g hopefully in the next year or two when I can afford to buy a dang house!!

[@jennifershaw4289]

Could 4 or 5 go go good in a 2 foot until i get 5 foot

[@BentleyPascoe]

Maybe for a very short period or while still young (2.5" or less in length)

[@MrPhatbasslines]

Using hikari micro pellets with frozen brine shrimp once a week. I've never fasted

[@christianfernandez6999]

You're videos have been the most helpful for rainbows I've seen on KZbin. Already cycling a planted 55 for boesemani rainbows. Like you said 6 with mostly females, but what are some smaller fish that will complement well besides corys?

[@BentleyPascoe]

White clouds, otocinclus, dwarf chain loach, rummy nose tetra, apistos, kribensis, plecos. Lots of options!

[@k0olmini11]

Yooo that dojo is massive!

[@HoonAquatics]

Long time no rainbowfish video!

[@Redneckrino]

Hey 👋🏼 thanks great video I have a question. I see your tank in the back it looks like you have Birchers with rainbows does that work? I have some small ones I was thinking of doing that but I was very cautious. I have a 125 planted tank.

[@BentleyPascoe]

They're dojo loaches. As bichirs get big I would worry, but rainbows are fast.

[@Redneckrino]

@@BentleyPascoe I also worry that they would not get food because the other fish are so fast at the punch. Hey thanks for answering my question man. I’m going to get some of those loaches most likely.

[@carljewell5536]

Do rainbow do good with guppies I was thinking about putting some in my community 75 gallon aquarium

[@BentleyPascoe]

Rainbows are relatively peaceful. However, you might run into some of the fry getting eaten by big adults. Also rainbows are very fast fish so they're going to get to that food and be super boisterous and that might make your guppies a little shy which could cause them not to get as much food as they normally do. Usually I suggest not keeping slower fish, especially some of your like larger fins type fish with rainbow solely because they're just such an energetic fish that that can often cause the other fish to become shy or worry that they are some kind of predator even though the rainbows are not predators

[@carljewell5536]

I got a all male tank so far

[@PremiumDreams]

my loaches prefer the temp at 80 but I want to put a school of boesmanis with them, would that be okay?

[@BentleyPascoe]

Yes, boesemani can take 80

[@leo2o915]

How much brightwell would I need for a 125 planted tank lol have a feeling would be a pretty penny 😂

[@BentleyPascoe]

Likely at least 6 of the big bags. Not sure

[@leo2o915]

@@BentleyPascoe would be a pretty penny lol

[@theskeptikaltruckr]

What are those gold colored ones behind you? They look like some kind of loach???

[@BentleyPascoe]

Dojo loaches!

[@theskeptikaltruckr]

@@BentleyPascoe oh gosh! My son has two that look like them. His are golden dojo loaches but they are only a couple inches long!

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@theskeptikaltruckr mine are adopted and I believe 5-7 years old

[@theskeptikaltruckr]

@@BentleyPascoe well, I guess we will be moving my son’s loaches to my 115 gallon tank in the upcoming years. 😂

[@ELflowing]

Great tips

[@treeehrhardt4509]

I have 8 gOyder rivers and 6or7 australian. Can I keep them together and if so how big a tank? Thanks great video!

[@BentleyPascoe]

Yes, I would say try to do a 90g or larger as they Goyders get big

[@Piddypng]

I loovvee rainbows, I don't have a lot rn but I just upgraded them to a 90 gallon. No idea how many I can stuff in there with the other fishes I have. It's so hard to gauge if my tank is understocked or overstocked

[@Piddypng]

I'm dumb I actually watched the video and you mentioned it lol. It's a tough choice because the cherry barbs I have in there were my first ever fish in my uncycled 20 gallon a year ago. I'm going to keep chatting bc I can never talk about my rainbows with my normal friends lol. But I caught my make boesmani spawning with my female yellow rainbow and I actually got to pull it and raise babies. Now I have 9 strong gorgeous babies that I raised from eggs... Truly a gorgeous process. They're almost big enough to add with the parents

[@adrienneparsons7088]

I have a question - what about flow rates? How does one figure out what they like? From what I’ve read (swiftly flowing, water movement, sponge filter) there is no consensus I’m looking at getting some dwarf Praecox for a species only 55 gallon.

[@BentleyPascoe]

They can tolerate a pretty wide range. Whether you're just using sponges to power, a 55 or whether you using something like a tidal 110 or an AquaClear 110. That's one of the nice part about rainbow fish. Is that whether they are the stream or lake varieties of fish they all can handle a pretty wide range. Just make sure that you've got good oxygenation and clean water

[@AquariumAficionado]

They love having areas with moderately fast moving water, the output from the aquaclear 110 is perfect for them to hang out in. I have that and a powerhead They hang out by the aquaclear to go to bed, then during the day they swim against the powerhead to let out energy. You want them to barely be able to overpower the current for the powerhead. Don’t want it too strong but enough for them to have fun in

[@atkinsnatureaquariums3552]

Awesome video, I love my rainbows, I have a pair of bosemani, and 4 Melanotania Williams Creek juveniles. got them as grey little minnow looking fish from the local club BAP , starting to get some color on the fins now. My bosemani I've had for about 2 years, lots of color in the male and even the female is good looking. I dont know if I consider myself a rainbow nerd, but I have the bug, the Williams Creek rainbows should be awesome when they grow up, hopefully I get a good mix group to breed out.

[@BentleyPascoe]

Williams Creek is a really cool little fish! That color up process might be my favorite part of keeping Bows

[@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058]

@@BentleyPascoe I'm thinking about turning my 75 gal into a rainbow shiner tank, I listened to your video about rainbow fish I was wondering if I had 2 corners of the tank with piled rocks would the fry survive to get big enough to multiply following everything else you said?

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058 it's possible, although rainbow shiners are a lot different than rainbow fish (Melanotaenia, Glossolepis, Chilatherina, etc). Certainly providing cover for fry changes the potential outcome

[@sherryblack7282]

New rainbow owner, I got tge turquoise, I have 3 males and 2 females. I want to get more. They're just beginning to show their color, battleshipping is a great description, lol I've considered adding bosemani but you suggest staying species specific. I just love these fish. When they spawn where do they normally scatter their eggs?

[@BentleyPascoe]

It is very dependent upon the plants present in your tank. Usually what I see is about mid water kind of near things like Java, fern or mosses. A friend has his very regularly spawn in his grass-like plants which would kind of make sense as to why they like spawning mops too. Because the yarn kind of axes strengths of grass or roots similar to that.

[@1997goldwing]

Great advice, I'm keeping all my tanks around 78/79* is that ok?

[@BentleyPascoe]

As long as the fish you keep are good at that temp, should be fine.

[@gretchengengo4068]

I'm setting up a 75g tank right now. My plan is for rainbows (now, just 2 species -- I was thinking 3 before watching your video), rummy nose tetras, cory cats, cherry barbs.. maybe a pleco or 2? Maybe rasboro? Maybe a rainbow shark? You know so much - so what would you say on my question mark fish? I do plan to have a planted tank - soil base and a sand cap.. not sure how I'm going to add the substrate just yet since I already put water in 😅 how many of which fish would be good though?? Bosemoni will be one of the rainbows.. unsure on the second. I'd love to get your opinions.

[@BentleyPascoe]

I might avoid the rainbow shark as they can get pretty large long term, otherwise seems fine

[@BentleyPascoe]

10-12 total rainbows would be good, try to get more females than males if you can and either all boesemani or mix something like boesemani and a Glossolepis or Chilatherina species. You can do other Melanotaenia like turquoise or some such if you don't plan to breed them

[@gretchengengo4068]

@@BentleyPascoe more research to do! I appreciate your advice 🙂

[@robertjohnston25]

I’ve been thinking about getting Boesemani Rainbows for a long time.. i want them to be tank mates for my clown loaches. I have a 210g/75g sump + fx6 I run some pothos in the sump and keep nitrates 30 or less.. temp 82° pretty hard water and I feed Northfin foods and some frozen shrimp and bloodworms. I currently keep my clowns with some severums and an eba but I would move them to a different tank for the Rainbows. Was thinking of a small group of like 6-9 as my main focus is my Clown Loaches (I’m a hard clown geek I can’t explain it) I know I don’t hit all the check marks that you listed in this video but I think I hit a good number of them. I would love to send you an email or something of my tank to get your 2c if necessary but I really don’t take getting new fish lightly. So I wana be forsure before I pull the trigger and go through 5-7 weeks of QT. (I hate risking disease) any input would be greatly appreciated. I would tell you how many clowns I have but you might throw up 😅

[@BentleyPascoe]

That temp is a little hot for Boesemani. They can likely handle it, but it would shorten their life spans and open them up to risks of bacterial issues.

[@jasoncarty2175]

Hi Bentley,I'm thinking of keeping a dwarf species of rainbowfish in a fully planted 3 ft aquarium,I've picked out ogilbyi timika as I love there colouration and will also be able to source them from my local dealer,I have naturally hard water and will be keeping them on a dark substrate,what's your thoughts pls.

[@BentleyPascoe]

I think you'll be fine, just don't keep too many.

[@jasoncarty2175]

@@BentleyPascoe how many would you recommend Bentley,36"x 15x18h with good filteration.

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@jasoncarty2175 depending on what other fish you plan to keep in there with them, I would say somewhere between 7 and 12 fish would be okay

[@lilynorthover8378]

I've moved to a very soft water area and will be setting up my four foot tank for smaller rainbows, probably praecox as there are hardly any fish shops here. My question is, what is the best way to add mineral content? Would crushed coral do it or is there a suitable water additives? Could I put the coral in a bag in the external filter or does it have to be in the tank? Thank you for the help Bentley, I always enjoy your videos 😊

[@BentleyPascoe]

Coral is one of the easiest and cost efficient ways. You can certainly use a mesh bag in the filter for your coral, I do that in many of my tanks.

[@lilynorthover8378]

Thank you very much 😘

[@lilynorthover8378]

​@@BentleyPascoeI have found a fish shop an hour and half drive away, that sometimes has out of the ordinary Rainbows. Just got some Wapoga Red Lasers as my first Rainbows. Finally!😂

[@jc49fishniner4lif7]

Great video love those huge dogo louches in the background

[@BentleyPascoe]

Team Thicc likes to be on camera 🤣

[@lilybeaumont683]

I lost my big rainbow male ..not sure of his age but he would dance with my other large male and his swimming bladder got damaged..his female turned nasty so I had to move her to be with my other bad tempered female..they get on great even in a smaller tank..the male that did the damage is now not eating well..he looks fine and could be living on baby shrimp.. He is missing his dance partner.. The tank is a 50g 4ft with 4 rainbows and 8 Cory cats..my angel is in there too after a tank leak in his tank..he seems to love the extra foot length so I may leave him there.. When the other tank is fixed I may make it a Madagascar rainbow tank..it is 65g..but 3ft..I found my Madagascars were fine with that..I have a large pair that used to live in that tank..I have 3 more on order..so3/ 5 rainbows and 10 pearl danios..should be OK..till I replace that tank with a 75g 4ftat some point..

[@mannyaraujo1]

How about 77 to 78 degrees?

[@BentleyPascoe]

@@mannyaraujo1 should be fine for most rainbows

[@mannyaraujo1]

@BentleyPascoe bosmani

[@SwampApe]

How many millennial would you put in a 75 gallon. Species only but I don’t want to over stock

[@BentleyPascoe]

12-15

[@danfox1458]

I find the water quality bs tbf yes that's what they need in the wild, but in the shops they are 9 times out of 10 farm bred and the fish farms are not gonna go out of their way to match every single fishes wild water habit, most shops have the same water that come's out of your tap as most are only 20 minuets away, so don't match the water quality to that of their home habits as that is one way to kill them as they have not been bred in that water

[@mr.kalopsia3273]

It’s how to be successful with rainbow fish, not how to get by with rainbows. If your water quality isn’t the best and you love what you see, it’ll get better in pristine water.

[@melaineturner8350]

I went to pick up some reason they all turning out to be boys I need to buy some girls do you have any girls to sell

[@BentleyPascoe]

I do not, which species?

[@iron433decker]

Hi Bentley you tube kick me out and yesterday I was thinking I missing somebody who the heck is that I said oh man Bentley I haven’t seen him in a long time. So I subscribe again it’s nice to be back

[@BentleyPascoe]

I appreciate the effort to fight KZbin, I don't know why the heck it does that

[@MrPhatbasslines]

I'm at 78 degrees with boesmani and dorityi

[@leo2o915]

Why you got to rub in my hard cali water with chlorine 😂 hurtful I wish I had ur soft water