Rainbows (multispinosa) Questions

[Big Vine]

Can a pair of rainbow cichlids be put in my 38 gallon tank and spawn without kicking the bejesus out of the angelfish and platies? (spawning kribs terrorized everyone so much that I had to remove em'---I'm hoping rainbows are a little more placid)

SinisterKisses...you've kept em' before---what say ye'?

Someone told me to let em' pair up in the 12 gallon tank, take 2 back to the LFS, and put the pair in the 38 gal. (this way the 55 can be devoted to the salvini)

Thanks!
BV

P.S. ('ll be removing 4 of the angelfish in the 38 gal. once a pair forms)

 

[SinisterKisses]

I have a group of four, but they're not mature yet and haven't started breeding, so I have no idea what their breeding behavior is like. However, mine live in a tank with angels and a bunch of other different species, and they never even acknowledge them. I would think it would be okay; the rainbows tend to stick to the bottom of the tank anyway, and the angels to the top.

 

[Big Vine]

Cool, thanks SK.
Yeah, sounds like they oughta do okay. I really like em' a heck of a lot better than the firemouths, so I'm happy to be able to keep em'!

At this point, the iffy thing is the 4 salvini juvies in the 10 gal., but they've got lots of rockwork, and it's only temporary. Can't wait to get the 55 up and running for them! (will be salvini and Buenos Aires tetras...no silver dollars, lol)

Maybe once I've sorted through this fiasco I'll be able to keep better track of what everyone else is doing. I really enjoyed viewing your setups in the thread Toam started in the Lounge a little while ago! *thumbsups

BV

 

[SinisterKisses]

Lol thanks. I'm going to have to add a couple more to that shortly, I just bought two more tanks a couple days ago

 

[Big Vine]

A glimpse of my Rainbow cichlids

More tanks, eh? lol
You know, I think my wife felt a lot better about me getting the 55 gal. once I showed her that post of yours in the "What you got..." thread. Thanks!

Here's a shot I managed to get with all 4 rainbows in the pic together.

As far as I know, the pointed dorsal (and anal fins as well?) fins (male) vs. non-pointed (female) are the only real way to sex these guys---does that sound right?

If so, I'm guessing that the 2 on the left are male, whereas the 2 on the right seem to have more rounded dorsal fins...so maybe they're female?
(probably still too young to tell for sure )

BV

 

[Helena21]

nice pics bv. Although i dont have any idea about rainbows, id agree with you about sexing and the fins also the 'male' in front looks very colorful compared to the other 2 (i cant see the back males body). So yeah, i think you have 2 males and 2 females.
btw, there very pretty

 

[SinisterKisses]

LOL so glad I could help your tank situation You better be nice to me, or I'll tell your wife how when I started with cichlids, I only had about 4 tanks, and the biggest was only 20gal...and now look where I am! Ha!

I haven't actually looked into how to sex them yet, figured they'd let me know eventually. Maybe its different (aka more accurate) with this species, but most CA's are impossible to sex by their finnage. Females very often can get the nice pointy, long flowing fins that males do.

 

[Katie217]

Females very often can get the nice pointy, long flowing fins that males do.

I agree 100% with that statement, my female con had the nicest flowing trailers on her fins, so for CA cichlids, fins are a good indicator of sex, but not 100%

 

[Big Vine]

Thanks, Katie.

You better be nice to me, or I'll tell your wife how when I started with cichlids, I only had about 4 tanks, and the biggest was only 20gal...and now look where I am! Ha!

Oh, brother. I'd be in trouble! lol
Actually, she said that once we're in a house, she doesn't care how many tanks I have! We'll see how that plays out down the road...

What you said about sexing the rainbows and many CA cichlids in general makes sense. I'll just not worry about it for now. Like you said, they'll 'tell' us when they pair-off later.

Thanks again.
BV