Rainbows: Boesmani vs. Neon Dwarf

To all,
As I prepare to restock my 55 gal community tank, for one of the tank
inhabitants I debate between 2 Rainbows:

Boesmani Rainbow (Melanotaenia boesmani)
Neon Dwarf Rainbow (Melanotaenia praecox)

The former (Boesmani) are wonderful fish. I had 3 in the 55 gal
before. They're strikingly beautiful with the blue and orange body,
always active and "interesting". 2 of the 3 I had would often take up
stance side-by-side; sometimes snout to snout, sometimes snout to tail
and flare their fins. Sometimes they would shimmy and shake. I was
never sure if it was 2 males showing off or a male and female pair
(never did see any spawning take place). I would of loved to have
another 3, but as it was I felt they were crowded in the 55 gal (they
were getting large, but mainly because they shared the tank with 4
full-grown Angels). The Rainbows and Angels always seemed to get in
each others way.

I've never noticed Neon Dwarf Rainbows locally (although, in all
honesty I haven't looked for them although there always seem to be
some kind of Rainbows available in the LFS). From surfing the Net
they appear to be desireable as well. And being a bit smaller, a
shoal of six would do nicely in a 55 gal tank.

The Rainbows (whatever the choice is) will share their space with a
Bristlenose cat, a Yo-yo loach, a school of tetras and probably a
number of lower dwelling dwarfish Cichlids (debating between some
Kribs and some Bolivian Rams).

Our local water is fairly neutral (7.0 - 7.3) and slightly soft (about
6 deg hardness).

Anyone have any experience and care to comment about the 2 Rainbow
selections, and numbers based on tank size?

Thanks in advance.

.... Bill

Bill K wrote:
and flare their fins. Sometimes they would shimmy and shake. I was
never sure if it was 2 males showing off or a male and female pair
(never did see any spawning take place). I would of loved to have

Male and female rainbows are very easy to distinguish once they reach
sexual maturity. Males are very colorful, while females are not.

another 3, but as it was I felt they were crowded in the 55 gal (they
were getting large, but mainly because they shared the tank with 4
full-grown Angels). The Rainbows and Angels always seemed to get in
each others way.

I have both in a 110g tank. The angels are beautiful fish, but I hate
their aggresiveness.

they appear to be desireable as well. And being a bit smaller, a
shoal of six would do nicely in a 55 gal tank.

They are significantly smaller. Bosemanis get to be 5 inches long, while
praecox only get to be 2.5 inches or so.

The Rainbows (whatever the choice is) will share their space with a
Bristlenose cat, a Yo-yo loach, a school of tetras and probably a

Loaches should be kept in groups of at least 3.

Anyone have any experience and care to comment about the 2 Rainbow
selections, and numbers based on tank size?

Rainbows also do better in groups. They are not schooling fish like
tetras, but they do hang out some. For a 55g tank I would choose the
praecox and get at least 6.

--
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Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
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|| To all,
|| As I prepare to restock my 55 gal community tank, for one of the tank
|| inhabitants I debate between 2 Rainbows:
||
|| Boesmani Rainbow (Melanotaenia boesmani)
|| Neon Dwarf Rainbow (Melanotaenia praecox)

Neon Dwarf is a prettier fish, stays obviously smaller, but I think
prettier...

|| Anyone have any experience and care to comment about the 2 Rainbow
|| selections, and numbers based on tank size?

I'd get about 4 of them, then they won't get in your angels way..

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Hey Bill

My water is pretty similar to yours. I have kept Boesemanis b4 but gave them
away as they just seem like dozy buggers to me! They are very quick and make
feeding for other fish difficult, they're complete gluttons. Boesemanis are
nice, but I could'nt eat a whole one!

The Neon dwarfs are brilliant, I have 3 of these in with my Rams and
bristlenose and they seem to get along no worries. Beautiful colouring
aswell. You could probably keep more than half a dozen of em in a 55g. By
your description of other tank inhabitants I would definitely go for the
Neon Dwarfs. HTH, Good luck with your choice!
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**

Glad to hear that your Neon Dwarf Rainbows get along well wit your Rams.
I'm in the process of setting up a Dwarf cichlid community tank with a small
group of Neon Dwarf Rainbows as dithers.
"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...
Hey Bill

My water is pretty similar to yours. I have kept Boesemanis b4 but gave
them
away as they just seem like dozy buggers to me! They are very quick and
make
feeding for other fish difficult, they're complete gluttons. Boesemanis
are
nice, but I could'nt eat a whole one!

The Neon dwarfs are brilliant, I have 3 of these in with my Rams and
bristlenose and they seem to get along no worries. Beautiful colouring
aswell. You could probably keep more than half a dozen of em in a 55g. By
your description of other tank inhabitants I would definitely go for the
Neon Dwarfs. HTH, Good luck with your choice!
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**