FishnFry

Hi! I wonder if anybody have kept these species. I just acquired some of these (48 to be exact) and they are super tiny. I just want to know what you are feeding them.

Any advise would be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

Amanda

48?! wow.

mathas

There's a pretty comprehensive overview of feeding rainbowfish found here, if you're in the mood for a bit of reading.

FishnFry

Yes. And I hope they'll survive.

Thanks. I'll do some reading a little later.

MaddieLynn

What size tank do you need to have to keep that many?

FishnFry

They don't get that big, just a little over an inch.

Right now, they are in QT (25g) but they'll either be in a 75 with 5 glass catfish, cory sterbais and a bunch of plecos or in the 130 also with a bunch of plecos. I am thinking of setting up a species only tank of demasoni (maybe 20 or so depending which tank, 75 or 130, I'm doing).

I have also acquired a pair of panda garra that goes in with them.

agabr123

wow, that sounds like an awesome set up!!!

Butterfly

I had the Pseudomugil furcatus which are very similar. My problem was the current in the tank was too much for them but didn't realize it until I lost them all.
Carol

FishnFry

Thanks. I just hope so.


I just turned down the filter to slow it down just in case it bothers them. So far they are very tiny but doing just fine.

Thanks for the heads up Carol.

Butterfly

Welcome! I had them in a 75g with Threadfin Rainbows(Iriatherina werneri) They were beautiful swimming together. The threadfins are still doing great a year later.
Carol

FishnFry

Glad to hear that.. How long did your furcatus live?

Butterfly

About two weeks. they just died one at a time until there were no more. but they always went back to the current.

FishnFry

Oh sorry to hear that. I didn't know they are not hardy fish.

I just hope mine will live longer. I'm hoping I'll have a nice school even if not all 48 will survive. I still hope all will make it though. It's only been 3 days since I got them. I'll keep my fingers cross.

cerianthus

Although have kept P. signifer, P furcatus, Bedotia geayi and Iriatherina werneri and other Rainbows but not these tinys.
As far as feeding, should be able to use most prepared (flakes) but small sized foods. As matures, coud add Frozen Dapnia as supplementary diet. Becareful since one cube will dust the tank which most likely wont be a probelm with 48 of them.
According to book I have, it recommends soft and slightly acidic water(around 6.5). Dont go on changing if tank water is different. ALways GRADUAL GRADUAL changes with any fish.
Better off in species tank due to fragile nature of the fish (tiny size), need open swimming room.
3 color variants depending on its original locations.

FishnFry

Right now I'm feeding them crushed flakes and shrimp pellets and sometimes Golden Pearls. I'm thinking maybe some frozen food that are small enough for their little mouth. Little buggers are all over the tank looking for something to eat.

I just noticed a couple of them are starting to show their fins and I'm pretty sure they are males. Very interesting to watch though as they look like they have tiny wings on their backs.

cerianthus

Yea! Dont they, like flying fish or buttely fish? If possible Frozen Baby Brine? Exactly how big are they now?

FishnFry

I don't have frozen baby brine but have frozen brine, I wonder if it's small enough for them. I also have frozen bw and a frozen emerald entree. I'm so leery about feeding frozen bw, might not be good for them.

The biggest ones are maybe an inch, most are smaller.

FishnFry

That's good to know. I think the water is around that I'll have to check tomorrow as I haven't checked lately. They'll be going in the 75 I think, and they'll be housed with 5 glass catfish, 11 corydoras sterbai and a variety of plecos (not common). Do you think they'll be safe with their tankmates?