Salmon-red Rainbowfish

While male Glossolepis incisus steal the spotlight with their crimson colouration, females and sub-adult individuals of the species are themselves attractive fish with an understated elegance — a pale olive-silver body with salmon-pink to peach undertones on the ventral surface and lower flanks, and subtly yellow-tinted fins. Maintaining mixed-sex groups in a spacious aquarium creates a visually diverse and naturally behaving social group.

Female Glossolepis incisus are noticeably more streamlined than the heavily built adult males and have a less pronounced dorsal hump. In a group with multiple males, females may be subject to persistent courtship attention, so it is important to provide sufficient space and maintain a ratio of at least two females per male. Dense planting and visual breaks within the aquarium allow females to escape the attention of overly persistent males.

This listing is specifically aimed at hobbyists wishing to purchase female or mixed-stock G. incisus to complement or begin mixed-sex groups. Care requirements are identical to those of the Red Rainbowfish Male listing — warm, moderately hard, slightly alkaline water in a spacious, well-filtered aquarium.

Water: pH 7.0–8.0, temperature 22–27°C, moderately hard; large weekly water changes to support active fish. Tank: Minimum 200 L for a mixed-sex group; open swimming space with planting to break sightlines. Feeding: Quality flake, pellets, live and frozen foods; females benefit from varied, protein-rich diet. Breeding: Egg scatterer; maintain 1 male to 2–3 female ratio to distribute courtship attention. Compatibility: Peaceful with medium-to-large fish; stunning in large rainbowfish community displays.