Description
Glossolepis incisa
This is a peaceful shoaling species ideally suited to the planted community aquarium. They should be kept in groups of 6 or more individuals and because of their active nature and large adult size, the aquarium should be at least 4ft long to allow them a good amount of swimming space. As with many other Rainbowfish species, the small juveniles can look comparatively drab to the absolutely stunning adult fish, and so are all too often overlooked in the shops. However, once settled into the security of the planted aquarium, these young specimens will soon begin to colour up, revealing their true adult beauty. The males in particular will develop a positively dazzling appearance, with the dominant male displaying the brightest colours of all. Intensity of males can vary, with higher temperatures often leading to a deeper burgundy hue. Despite their large and deep-bodied adult size, Red Rainbowfish will not bother smaller tankmates as their mouths/throats are too narrow to be able to swallow them. Although currently abundant in their wild habitat, this species is listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN redlist of endangered species due to its limited distribution. Red Rainbowfish are one of the most popular aquarium rainbowfishes and are commercially bred on a large scale, so the specimens you see in the shops will be tank-raised and many generations away from their wild ancestors.
