The price of gold

[GaryofMontreal]

I've had these guys for a while, and posted a shot of them after arrival. Then I focused on 'prettier' rainbows, keeping them in a community. Looking at their age, I put them in a breeding tank last week. They're the only rainbow there. All of a sudden, this peaceful, shy, easily bullied 'bow went technicolour on me.
Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi does show up in pet stores around here sometimes, where they look much like what this guy did in a community. If you have room for a larger rainbow that gets a tank where it doesn't have to compete with other 'bows, don't walk away if you see a tank of them. The gold on their flanks is really something (suddenly - in the right set-up). The photo doesn't do them justice.
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[CACAdmin]

Beautiful rainbow! It's amazing that a change in environment can make such a significant difference in color. Wow!

[Kimr]

Those are stunning for sure. Always loved rainbows.

[Pamelajo]

Very nice Gary!

[Dan_G_Calgary]

wow. Very nice Gary. If you've had them that long, are you thinking that they are non hybridized rainbows?

If so, I would be interested in buying a mop of eggs from you, if you are interested in the trouble of getting that out here. So many of the rainbows available now just look... welll wrong!

[GaryofMontreal]

It took me a very long time, but I was able to find a Canadian breeder who had 'pedigree' rainbows from wild stock. I've been able to get two trifasciata populations (Goyder River and Running Creek), these herbertaxelrodi and some fantastic boesemani - all traceable to imports from the wild, and all kept by breeders who are very serious about not allowing hybridization.
I have to say, it's worth it. I also have some G wanamensis I really like, but that are pet shop stock, and while I believe they're not hybrids, they have clearly been domestically selected for maximum orange on their rich green flanks. They are flashy, but not as nice as the wanamensis I had 20 years ago that were as they are in the wild. Those fish had almost no orange, but were the weirdest metallic green I've ever seen on a fish. I have fry and I'll see how they look - jeez, they are slow slow growers.
Pedigree rainbows are hard to get hold of. The breeders really test you before they'll sell - I assume a limited number of mops per year is partly behind it, as well as a purist attitude that makes me look like a softie. I'm clearly on sufferance in this corner of the hobby - I won't get any more until I breed them and prove my respect for them. The Canadian rainbow crowd are easy going, but some of the US breeders are fiercely exclusive. Their first test is the price of their mops - $50 to $150 for a shot in the dark that may not hatch and that isn't guaranteed.
I admit, I buy species at the low end of that spectrum. I'm a cheap guy with a family. If it weren't for the auction, I wouldn't have any of these fish as well as a few of my killies. I get to use the money I make to reinvest in ways I'd be a fool to spend otherwise.
I don't plan to sell mops, but if I get young going, I plan to make them available in the CAC auction next Spring. I have mops in on my boesemani and herbies right now, so they can be up to decent size by Spring.
I'm shut down on shipping now - it's zero degrees outside as I type in the early morning Montreal darkness now.

[Pamelajo]

The biggest trifasciata you sent me is colouring up nicely and will be very beautiful.
There is someone in my area who is bringing F2 neon rainbows to auction. I am hoping he/she brings some to my auction then I can find out more. The were boes also at the last auction, their colour was amazing in the bag. I did not check them out to see if it was the same person. I have kept the neon and boes from LFS stores about 5 years ago and they have no comparison to the boes at the auction or the neons I picked up. The neons who are about an inch or a little over are starting to show the colour in the fins in a quarantine tank with no background etc. Can't wait to see what these guys look like in the big tank.
I would have loved to pic up the boes but my biggest tank is 75, and I think they would be better in something bigger,( hence not looking into these more at the last auction.. But if they do show up here at the auction in two weeks I will look closer.