Moderate

Red Rainbowfish

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Glossolepis incisus

Complete Red Rainbowfish care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 55 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

Red Rainbowfish

Quick Answer

Red Rainbowfish (Glossolepis incisus) is one of the most vividly colored rainbowfish. It requires a minimum 55 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 7.0 - 7.8 and temperature range of 24-28°C. This omnivore occupies the middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Red Rainbowfish (Glossolepis incisus) is one of the most vividly colored rainbowfish. Males are a stunning deep red-orange, while females are silver-gold.

Setup

A 55-gallon or larger tank (4+ feet long) with open swimming space and planted areas. Good filtration and regular water changes.

Feeding

Omnivorous; accepts flakes, pellets, frozen foods, and live foods. A varied diet with carotenoids enhances red color.

Compatibility

Peaceful. Keep in schools of 6+. Good with other rainbowfish, barbs, danios, larger tetras, and peaceful cichlids like Severums.

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Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
24-28°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
7.0 - 7.8

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Leaf Fish Care Guide: Diet & Tank Mates semanticSimilarity Angelfish Care Guide: Tank Size & Diet | The Aquarium Calculators semanticSimilarity Badis Care Guide: Tank Size & Compatibility semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Red Rainbowfish should be kept together?
Maintain a minimum school of 6 to 8 individuals in a tank of at least 55 gallons (208 liters) with a footprint of 48x15 inches (120x38 cm). Red rainbowfish (Glossolepis incisus) males develop a deep red coloration when displaying in a school with a higher ratio of females. Groups under 5 cause faded colors and male aggression. Maintain 1 male to 2-3 females. Provide open swimming lanes and dark substrate. Tank length must exceed 4 feet (120 cm).
What are the exact water parameters for Red Rainbowfish?
Target pH 7.0 - 7.8, General Hardness 8 - 15 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 6 - 12 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 150 - 400 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 300 - 800 μS/cm, and temperature 72°F - 78°F (22°C - 26°C). They prefer hard, slightly alkaline water parameters and spacious horizontal swimming tracks. Maintain nitrates below 15 ppm with weekly 25% water changes. Use a canister filter with high flow (10x turnover). Provide open swimming areas. Hardness below 5 dGH reduces red coloration.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for Red Rainbowfish?
They are active omnivores requiring 45% protein, 12% fat, 43% plant matter. Feed high-protein flake food, slow-sinking granules, frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworms twice daily. Offer spirulina flakes and blanched peas weekly. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.2 mg/L) but sensitive to formalin. Praziquantel is safe. Salt baths up to 5 ppt treat external parasites. Quarantine with methylene blue for 7 days.
How to breed Red Rainbowfish in captivity?
Select 8-10 mature fish (1 male:2 female) and condition with live blackworms and brine shrimp for 3 weeks. Set up a 30-gallon (113 liter) breeding tank with 10 inches (25 cm) of water (pH 7.2, dGH 10, 74°F/23°C), a spawning mop, and java moss. Spawning occurs daily at dawn; females release 100-300 adhesive eggs daily over several days. Remove parents every 2 days. Eggs hatch in 7-10 days at 72°F (22°C). Fry feed on infusoria for 3 days, then microworms, then baby brine shrimp. Grow-out requires frequent water changes.

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