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One of the interesting rainbowfish facts is that the Melanotaenia are the largest of them, but these freshwater fish only grow to about 8 inches at the most.

admin    December 21, 2018   CATEGORY: Fish Facts ,Freshwater Aquariums

Freshwater Life: The Rainbowfish Facts You Want to Know

Aptly named for the variety of colors each fish has, a rainbowfish is one of the prettiest freshwater fish to add to your aquarium. In addition to being lively and colorful, rainbowfish have some interesting characteristics as well. If you’re considering adding them to your tank, following are some rainbowfish facts you might want to know.

Fun and Helpful Rainbowfish Facts

● There are more than 50 types of rainbowfish, including neon dwarf rainbowfish, threadfin rainbowfish, Madagascar rainbowfish, and red rainbowfish.
● Like high-quality wine and parmigiano reggiano, rainbowfish only get better with age. Their colors become more vibrant. Infant rainbowfish are actually a silvery-white color.
● Male rainbowfish can be competitive with other males within their species. For that reason, you might want to consider minimizing potential conflicts in your aquarium by limiting the number of male rainbowfish you have in it.

One of the interesting rainbowfish facts is that they look different depending on how the light hits them.

Lake Kutubu rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lacustris)

● They can turn red with fury or green with envy, quite literally. If they’re uncomfortable, sick, or feeling competitive, their colors can deepen. Being stressed out is not really good for their health, though, so you should aim to keep the freshwater aquarium as harmonious and peaceful as possible.
● Like introverted extroverts, the fish enjoy socializing with other fish, but need peace and quiet through the shelter of rocks and plants every now and then.
● They are omnivorous, feeding on algae, insect larvae, and small crustaceans. Giving them flake food is just fine; in the wild, they tend to eat insects that are floating on the surface of swamps, rivers, and lakes anyway.
● They can be found in regions including parts of Australia, Indonesia, and Madagascar.
● Melanotaenia are the largest rainbowfish.
● The fish only grow to about 8 inches long, and some only grow to about 2 inches. The average fish is about 4 inches long.
● Their lifespan varies depending on the species, but many live for up to five years.
● Rainbowfish can be members of several different families, including Atherinidae, Pseudomugilidae, Telmatheriidae, and Melanotaeniidae.
● The Boeseman’s Rainbowfish is an endangered species.
● How you perceive a fish’s color may vary depending on how the light hits the fish.

See Our Website for More Fish Facts

For more facts about freshwater fish, freshwater aquariums, aquarium maintenance, fish tank water quality, and more, see our Seatech Aquariums blog page.

If you’re interested in redesigning your aquarium or starting one from scratch, we can help. Contact us today to get started.

Contact Seatech Aquariums for aquarium maintenance or fish tank installation services.

TAGS: Freshwater Aquarium, freshwater fish, Rainbowfish,

Have you ever wondered why fish are so colorful, especially reef fish?

admin    December 1, 2018   CATEGORY: Fish Facts ,Reef Aquariums

Things are Not Always as They Seem: Theories about Why Fish are So Colorful

Have you ever wondered where fish get their color, both individually and by breed? No one knows with 100 percent certainty how fish obtain their color nor why fish are so colorful, but there are a few theories.

One animal that is similar to a fish in terms of the variety of color is a snake. It’s easy to see why snakes are so colorful; it’s a means of survival by blending into the grass, dirt, sand, and weeds. The need to blend into the environment is one obvious theory regarding the survival of fish as well. According to researchers, however, the reasons why fish are so colorful is probably much deeper than we know.

Possible Reasons Why Fish are So Colorful

In addition to using their color to hide from predators by camouflaging with the objects around them, there are several other theories and facts about why each fish has a variety of markings and each breed is different than the other.

Based on the findings of one scientist, Gil Rosenthal, the fact that they live underwater rather than on land has a lot to do with it. Things look much different underwater. It’s darker, but light comes from a variety of sources, and that light isn’t always the same. Therefore, fish need the various markings in order to:
● Identify each other underwater.
● Identify predators.
● Identify competitors within the same breed.

Have you ever wondered why fish are so colorful, like this lionfish is?Their vivid colors also tend to give them a fluorescent tone, which possibly allows allies to see them better.

Because fish live in different areas of the water, be it near the surface or deep in the coral reefs, they need to adapt to their environment, which is an additional theory about why fish are so colorful.

Another issue that factors into the equation is that humans can’t tell what fish see; truly, that would be almost impossible unless you were seeing through their eyes while they were still alive. The fish, therefore, might not even know how beautiful they are, but have their own methods of identifying each other that humans don’t quite understand.

It’s also possible that the spotted, multi-colored fish that we see looks like one plain, solid colored animal to another fish from a distance. It could be nature’s way of allowing fish to be identified by friends but hidden from foes.

Up-Close Admiration

When it comes to us as pet fish owners and aquarium enthusiasts, we simply reap the benefits that nature gives us. This is especially true for owners of reef aquariums, as fish that live deep in natural waters tend to have the most beautiful markings.

If you are thinking of adding new livestock to your existing aquarium or are thinking of having a fish tank installed, contact us. We’ll help you identify the most ideal, beautiful livestock to suit your aquarium environment.

 

TAGS: Fish Facts, Reef Aquarium, Why Fish are Colorful,