Praecox Rainbow Death And Moving Forward

As the title states, I've had significant Praecox Rainbowfish death, and I'm trying decide where to go moving forward with my tank. The tank in question is a 55 gallon Angelfish community tank. Although I have had some Angelfish death in the recent past, it seems that was due to aggression when I had only 2 in the tank. The 4 Angels I currently have are doing well. I also have 1 Blue Phantom Pleco, 1 Nerite Snail, 13 Harlequin Rasboras, and 2 (down from 7 total) Praecox Rainbows.

I'm considering re-homing the remaining Rainbows (losing 5 out of 7 doesn't feel like a coincidence to me), and adding a different second school (I'm leaning towards Bleeding Heart Tetras, but I'm open to suggestions), or possibly increasing my school of Harlequins (but I'd prefer to have a second school to add more color). I'm looking for suggestions, both for what may work, and to not overstock.

My parameters are all really good, so I don't understand the Rainbow deaths. They're all juveniles still, and they've died off slowly over a couple of months. PH: 7.4 - 7.6, Ammonia/Nitrite: 0, Nitrates: 5-10.

 

I tried keeping Praecox Rainbows a few years back and had the same experience you are having...they slowly died off for no apparent reason. I saw a member post not too long ago that the quality of the Praecox Rainbows has gotten pretty bad as of late.

You could maybe try for a school of a different species of Rainbow. But you'll need to find a species temperature compatible with the Angels. I think Boesemani's might work. If you look in my signature below, you'll see what Rainbows I had (I need to update my signature to reflect my current stocking) and I keep my tank at 78 degrees.

 

I tried keeping Praecox Rainbows a few years back and had the same experience you are having...they slowly died off for no apparent reason. I saw a member post not too long ago that the quality of the Praecox Rainbows has gotten pretty bad as of late.

You could maybe try for a school of a different species of Rainbow. But you'll need to find a species temperature compatible with the Angels. I think Boesemani's might work. If you look in my signature below, you'll see what Rainbows I had (I need to update my signature to reflect my current stocking) and I keep my tank at 78 degrees.

Thanks! As much as I love BosemanI Rainbowfish, I have them in my 100 gallon. So, I'd like to go with something different, plus, unless I'm mistaken, it's my understanding that these would be too large for my tank, considering my other stocking.

 

I'm really sorry to hear this. I was thinking of getting praecox rainbows for a new 55 I'm setting up. Maybe a pH issue?

 

I'm really sorry to hear this. I was thinking of getting praecox rainbows for a new 55 I'm setting up. Maybe a pH issue?

As far as I know, my parameters should be good for these guys, but I can't be positive.

 

No other thoughts on moving forward with this tank?

 

School of rummy nose? They do well with angels.

 

School of rummy nose? They do well with angels.

What else? I want options. I like Columbian Tetras, but I know they're probably too nippy. Also, Bleeding Heart Tetras.

 

A few months ago, I tried stocking Praecox. I got 3 males and 5 females. All the males died within 3 days. Over the next week, I was able to find 5 more males from 3 different LFS and they were all doing well in my 10 gallon QT. So well, they started breeding. I put in a mop and had a clump of java moss already in the tank. I pulled about 100 eggs but only about 50-70 hatched with the other eggs getting fungus. I moved the java moss into a 20 gallon tall fry tank and after a few weeks, I have over 100 fry swimming around. I must've missed a lot of eggs in the moss. The original 10 are doing well so far in my 75g.

 

A few months ago, I tried stocking Praecox. I got 3 males and 5 females. All the males died within 3 days. Over the next week, I was able to find 5 more males from 3 different LFS and they were all doing well in my 10 gallon QT. So well, they started breeding. I put in a mop and had a clump of java moss already in the tank. I pulled about 100 eggs but only about 50-70 hatched with the other eggs getting fungus. I moved the java moss into a 20 gallon tall fry tank and after a few weeks, I have over 100 fry swimming around. I must've missed a lot of eggs in the moss. The original 10 are doing well so far in my 75g.

Oddly enough, most of my deaths have been males, too.

 

I would say try stocking Praecox again, maybe from a different source. They're beautiful and fun to feed. The breeding was an unexpected surprise since all the females were 1" or less. I plan on putting them in my 20 gallon and 40 gallon too.

The original 8 were from a LFS. The 5 males were from 3 different PetCo's and only $5 ea. I was trying to get all 5 from the same place but gave up and picked them up as I found them.

 

I would say try stocking Praecox again, maybe from a different source. They're beautiful and fun to feed. The breeding was an unexpected surprise since all the females were 1" or less. I plan on putting them in my 20 gallon and 40 gallon too.

The original 8 were from a LFS. The 5 males were from 3 different PetCo's and only $5 ea. I was trying to get all 5 from the same place but gave up and picked them up as I found them.

I don't know about restocking the Rainbows. 5 of 7 dying doesn't seem like a coincidence to me. They were all very small, still, so they were juveniles, and still died.

 

I'd rather not make a new thread for this, but I'd like some help stocking this tank the rest of the way. I've decided to move away from the Praecox Rainbows (I'm in the process of re-homing those that remain to someone with a school).

Current stock: 1 Nerite Snail, 1 Blue Phantom Pleco, 4 Angels, 12 Harlequin Rasboras. I'm considering a second school for the middle, mainly to add color. I'm also considering adding Cories. I'm not positive which, if either idea is actually a good one, though.

 

I love cories because they're fun to watch and help keep the substrate looking clean. I have 8 bronze in my 75 gallon and 12 peppered in my 40g. I was planning on breeding my bronze cories as they've been getting plump and laid eggs at least twice but my other fish got to the eggs before I could.

 

My only concern with Cories is that so many folks on here are so opposed to keeping them on gravel. I do have gravel in my tanks.

However, if I do go with Cories, I'm looking for suggestions on what my final stocking plan should be.

 

Yeah, you don't want cories on gravel if you can help it.

 

Yeah, you don't want cories on gravel if you can help it.

I've heard that before. I've had them on gravel in the past, but I want to learn more about this before I make a decision. I'm not getting much feedback so far, though. My research may take awhile.

 

I had the exact same problem with my two praecox rainbows, they both died (would gulp for air at the top) then a few hours later be dead. My boesmanis that were in with them did perfectly fine! Wonder if there’s something going around?

 

Royal tetras ?
They are fast and pretty.

 

I had the exact same problem with my two praecox rainbows, they both died (would gulp for air at the top) then a few hours later be dead. My boesmanis that were in with them did perfectly fine! Wonder if there’s something going around?

Seems weird! But, someone did say the Praecox Rainbow stock seems to not be great lately, in general. I also have Bosemanis (different tank, though) that seem to be doing great.

 

Royal tetras ?
They are fast and pretty.

I've never heard of these. I'll need to check them out.

 

I have boesmanis in the same tank and they’re fine! Such. Shame, they’re so beautiful.

 

What is your tank water hardness? I was always under the impression rainbow fish needed harder water than SA fish. Is your other tank harder water?

If not, and you have the same fish thriving in another tank, I'd blame it on bad stock. I've ordered a group of 18 KerrI tetras only to have all but one perish in 8 months. No other fish was affected.

 

What is your tank water hardness? I was always under the impression rainbow fish needed harder water than SA fish. Is your other tank harder water?

If not, and you have the same fish thriving in another tank, I'd blame it on bad stock. I've ordered a group of 18 KerrI tetras only to have all but one perish in 8 months. No other fish was affected.

Both of my tanks are 7.4-7.6 PH, and 3-5 KH. I have BosemanI Rainbows in my big tank, doing great, and Praecox in this tank not doing so well.

 

I thought it was bad stock which is why I suggested restocking from a different source. Like some GBRs which are pumped with meds to survive but die off fairly easily when sold and transferred to a tank w/o meds. It could take weeks or months but they usually die off.

The 5 males from Petco are doing great but it's only been a few months. The fry are doing pretty good too.

 

I thought it was bad stock which is why I suggested restocking from a different source. Like some GBRs which are pumped with meds to survive but die off fairly easily when sold and transferred to a tank w/o meds. It could take weeks or months but they usually die off.

The 5 males from Petco are doing great but it's only been a few months. The fry are doing pretty good too.

I definitely believe it was bad stock. I'm just not sure I want to continue to stock a fish that's less hardy than others I can stock. Plus, from another thread I have, it seems I probably shouldn't have two different schools, anyway.