Hey Fishme

[angel]

I've bought rainbows from the Critter and from PetSmart. It all depends on whether you want some less ordinary ones or just some nice inexpensive rainbows that you can watch grow and color up. The ones in PetSmart were healthy and small, didn't look like much yet when I got them, but you know how that goes. As they grew they got their irridescence and I've not lost any due to health. I have lost a few due to aggression, mostly aggression amongst themselves so I probably ended up with all males in that tank.
The bosemani rainbow is like $12.99 though and it's the one that's half orange and half blue.
There are also some Madagascar rainbows that I thought for sure I'd want but when I saw them I didn't want them quite as badly. They're at Critter.

[fishme]

The Bosemani are beautiful, but no way I could afford a school of them at that price. There are some on Aquabid, but you know how it is with shipping prices. Sounds like the ones you saw are the pretty ones. I've seen them where they are more yellow than orange. I like the orange better. Are the madagascar the red ones, or are they a little bit plain?

The Australians are very pretty if you get a good strain, and the Praecox (neon dwarf) are a nice blue. I have one that came with a tank I bought from a lady last summer and it has red trim almost all the way around. They are also not as expensive as the Bosemani, which seem to be the royalty of rainbow fish. I'm thinking of starting with a good group of Praecox and going from there.

[angel]

It's Australians I've got the most of. I don't have a praecox yet. I think the Madagascars are plain. Heres' a link with them. I suppose it's all up to individual taste.
www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/stores_productsinfo.asp?store=6&prod=198

[fishme]

I don't know, I like the Madagascar. If I could be sure of getting some that look like those in the picture, I wouldn't mind having a few. I'm sure you've seen the Praecox, but just in case, or if there's someone else that hasn't seen them, here's a pic:

2.bp.blogspot.com/_ckBlasgNSzg/SOAIh-eYXYI/AAAAAAAAJKE/GxeETVyHNdc/s400/Praecox+Rainbow.jpg

[angel]

Yes they're a pretty blue and they don't get as big. I love the red ones too but I think they're hard to get.

[fishme]

This the red one you're talking about? Very pretty. (this sale is for eggs)

www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwrainbows&1268531736

[bjones]

I have some australian and tourquise blue. The last time I was at critter they had a bunch I had never seen before. I really like the neon drawfs, I used to have a couple and they were really cool.

[angel]

www.aqua-fish.net/imgs/fish1/red-rainbowfish-1.jpg
No its this one