[RML] chequered rainbows etc
Deanne Gaskill (d.gaskill at qut.edu.au)
Sun, 12 Dec 1999 19:33:57 +1000
I have 2, what I think are male chequered rainbows that came as a
'community tank package' about 20 months ago - they began my interest in
rainbows. One of them has always chased the other & is now nearly a third
larger. I will be stripping down this 4' tank, ie changing the filter
system & type of fish soon & would like advice re my options eg (i)
maintain status quo with them; (ii) introduce females; (iii) introduce
other rainbow types; (iv) separate them. The other fish in this tank
include a clown loach, bristle nose, 2 varieties of tetras & 2 flying foxes.
I have experience of rainbows, in a separate tank, re myco - I last
corresponded in June/July this year re this - praecox confirmed at autopsy.
Because I haven't been able to bring myself to euthenise all of them, I
have been following Adrian Tappin's broad advice re lowering temp, reducing
food intake, reducing protein by increasing proportion of vegetable intake
& so on. So far, the tank has been bowling along altho' I did euthenise one
australis that developed a growth which prevented the use of one fin. Of
course, the increase in water temperature as our summer progresses will be
the real test. So-o-o, I'm a little hesitant about introducing new rainbows
to the community tank, wondering if I should keep rainbows separate etc.
My final question relates to a product called "MelaFix" - my local pet shop
brought it to my attention. It's derived from the melaleuca/tea tree plant
& is marketed by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals for most bacterial & fungal
infections.
Thanx for your assistance. Deanne