Feeding Rainbowfishes: Insects help Maintain Bright Coloration

Hi All,
Many years ago I established a school of 75 Boezeman’s Australian Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) at the Bronx Zoo. The exhibit, which they shared with mangrove snakes, land crabs and crayfishes, made for a stunning display. And although the building also housed proboscis monkeys, marsh crocodiles, hornbills and other impressive beasts, the brilliantly-colored Rainbowfishes drew a great deal of attention from visitors.
But many keepers become disappointed when, after a time, their fishes’ fading colors do a disservice to the “rainbow” part of their name. Based on experience with related species, I’ve always provided my Rainbowfishes with highly varied diets, in which insects were heavily featured. Those under my care have usually retained their bright colors, and breeding has been consistent. A recent study that examined the natural diet of wild Rainbowfishes seems to bear this out, and has important implications for the care of other species as well. Read article here http://bit.ly/185G7uX
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Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp