Rainbow BTA Questions

[TheEngineer]

I'm thinking about picking up what is being sold as a rainbow BTA at the RCS swap this weekend. The guy has them starting at $25 for "dull" one up to $55 for the brightly colored ones. I've never had a nem before so I don't really know what that means in the long term.

So, my questions.... This is the sale picture. Looks nice to me for $25, but this isn't apparently a $25 one. If I get a "dull one" will it color up like this? And is this actually a rainbow BTA? Seller is a member here, but not very active.

 

[TheEngineer]

Oh, and is this appropriate for my 50g cube?

 

[Jimbo662]

Looks like a rainbow to me. It's very hard to tell what they'll do once you get them in your tank and under your lights. The last rainbow I had changed slightly from what it looked like in the original tank. I had mine in a 50g cube. Just make sure you cover the powerheads with foam covers...it will wander around until it finds a spot it likes.

 

[TheEngineer]

Do they start out dull and then color up?

 

[Jimbo662]

It all depends on the lighting / water quality they're under. Maybe ask the guy if the dull ones are in a different tank.

 

[cmac330]

Not all rainbow BTA's are the same. All BTA's will vary in color, brightness, speckling and striation. All rainbow really means anymore is that it has four colors (funny since the scientific species name is quadricolor). His "bright" ones are just as likely to get brighter as his "dull" ones assuming they were brought in the same and have been kept under the same conditions. Funny thing about rainbows is that most roses I see are actually rainbows, it just isn't as obvious until you saturate them with heavy blue LEDs. A couple years ago it was almost impossible to find a rainbow under $150 but now they are everywhere. For the extra $30 I would for sure get the bright as this nem will likely take up a fourth of your cube when it is grown so why get an uglier one to save what amounts to a small price in this hobby? Anyways, just my opinion. (Also, unless it is a brand name BTA from a reputable source, as in a lemon drop from Coral Collection, I always buy them in person because there is such a large variation and colors can be completely different depending on camera and lighting)