Rainbow fish ID and stocking question

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Gladmist

Aquarium Advice Newbie
Joined
Feb 1, 2014
Messages
3
Location
Virginia Beach Va
I have a very well seasoned 75 gallon planted low tech tank kept at 78 degrees. 0 ammonia 0 nitrites 0 nitrates(Java ferns suck up all the nitrates) 7.5 ph with 2 fluvall plant led strips adjusted at low to medium, FX4 filter with spray bar and pre filter on the inlet. Substrate is eco complete topped with carribsea supernaturals gravel. It is currently extremely lightly stocked with 1 male Boesmani (about 8 yrs old) who lost his two 8yr old girlfriends in the last year and 3 newer rainbows (1M 2F) sold to me as Macculochi rainbows. I have attached pics (sorry not better pics) I believe they are actually western rainbows (Australis). Anybody that can help with ID? I am looking to add 3 more of the newer rainbows (1M 2F). The male Boesmani will occasionally chase the others but will also school and swim with the back and forth across the front of the tank. My question, will the single Boesmani be ok with the bigger school do you think? Should I plan on getting him a couple of new girlfriends or will that make him more aggressive towards the others. Only other thing in the tank is 1 Nerite. Deaths and illness in family over the last 2 years have prevented me from adding stock before now. Other suggestions to add to tank? It has been set up for about 7 or 8 years. Appreciate any and all suggestions
 

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I'm no expert on rainbowfishes but I believe you are correct about them being M. australis. To be sure however, here is an extensive online book on Rainbowfish with pictures: Rainbowfish Book
As for mixing the 2 types, since they are both Melanotaneia, they can interbreed so I don't know how wise it is to mix these 2 together. If that does not matter to you, I would get at least another 4 females so that the 2 males have more to choose from. This does not mean that the males won't squabble for breeding rights but I have a feeling the Boesmani will win out due to age and probable size difference. If the tank is not a large tank, I wouldn't get any more females and separate the males from each other.
Regarding your tank, the length of time it has been set up is not really relevant as the biological filter grows and shrinks based on the amount of ammonia present. So technically, your tank is " cycled" for the one fish and the addition of the 3 new ones may actually stress the Biological filter so be sure to keep track of the ammonia level for the next week or so. You will need to do water changes if the ammonia level reaches higher than .25 ppm.
Hope this helps (y)
 
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I'm no expert on rainbowfishes but I believe you are correct about them being M. australis. To be sure however, here is an extensive online book on Rainbowfish with pictures: Rainbowfish Book
As for mixing the 2 types, since they are both Melanotaneia, they can interbreed so I don't know how wise it is to mix these 2 together. If that does not matter to you, I would get at least another 4 females so that the 2 males have more to choose from. This does not mean that the males won't squabble for breeding rights but I have a feeling the Boesmani will win out due to age and probable size difference. If the tank is not a large tank, I wouldn't get any more females and separate the males from each other.
Regarding your tank, the length of time it has been set up is not really relevant as the biological filter grows and shrinks based on the amount of ammonia present. So technically, your tank is " cycled" for the one fish and the addition of the 3 new ones may actually stress the Biological filter so be sure to keep track of the ammonia level for the next week or so. You will need to do water changes if the ammonia level reaches higher than .25 ppm.
Hope this helps (y)
Thanks for the insight, the tank is 48"x18"x21" so I'm thinking of leaving him in and adding to the Australis group. The new rainbows have been in there for about 6 weeks with no change in ammonia or nitrite (i have been testing weekly). Appreciate your insight
 
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