PETS 2016 - RAINBOW FISH

Rainbow fish originates from Middle and South America and is among most frequent tropical fishes bred in aquariums. It was brought to Europe during 20th century. It belongs to tropical fishes because it needs heated water in aquarium (26 °C), pretty hard and can also live in brackish water. Rainbow fishes bear live babies and together with some other families, belong to live-bearing fishes. They feed on water insects' larvae, and if the insects are small they eat also adult insects. Males are from 1.5 to 3 cm long, and females from 3 to 5 cm. Males are much nicer in colours than females, partly in order that they might attract them while the other reason is to bait eventual chasers. The breeding of the Rainbow fish in aquariums began during 20th century and a number of varieties of the species were created in different colours, tail and body shapes. Rainbow fish is very adaptable, so it is relatively easy to breed it also in a small aquarium containing water of lower quality whose temperature is also not too important in amateur breeding. It is sufficient to have an aquarium of at least 40 litres and some water plants in it and put future parents together taking care that there are not too many males in aquarium. By chasing one another away from the female the males actually do not succeed to fertilize her. In that period it is good to offer them live or frozen food (daphnia, tubiflex, mosquito larvae etc.), because the number of young fishes will thus be higher and more of them will survive hiding behind plants, since after birth they are chased by all (including parents) who want to eat them. Since rainbow fishes become sexually mature in short time, we can have several generations of them in one year. However, because of mating between kin, their look tends to return to natural, and such rainbow fishes are not too attractive. Rainbow fish is the most frequently amateur bred aquarium inhabitant and attracts many people just with the multiplicity of its colours and varieties. Boris Cebović Small Animal Breeder