Rainbowfish have two groups. Melanotaeniidae and Bedotiidae feature bigger, energetic fish like the Madagascar Rainbow. (The Threadfin Rainbow, I. Werner, is a Pseudomugilid.) Second, Pseudomugilidae and Telmatherinidae. Pseudomugilidae are tiny, gentle fish called “Blue Eyes.” Marosatherina ladegesi is the only Telmatherinidae species. Seeing a school of vividly colorful adult Melanotaeniids or “Blue Eyes” in full spawning attire explains how rainbowfish got their name.
RAINBOWFISH HABITAT
Rainbowfish are endemic to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. Human activities and exotic species harm natural Rainbowfish care populations. Most hobby rainbowfish are farmed in Southeast Asia and Florida.
RAINBOWFISH NEEDS
Captive-bred Melanotaeniids thrive in a broad variety of water conditions. They thrive at 74° to 78° F, pH 7.0 to 8.0, and 5° to 20° dKH (90 ppm to 360 ppm). Madagascar Rainbows need acidic water between 74° and 80°F, pH 6.5 to 7.5, and 3° to 14°dKH (55 ppm to 250 ppm). Pseudomugilids require 76-82° F, pH 6.5-7.5, and 5-10 dKH alkalinity (90 ppm to 180 ppm). Use an Aqueon Aquarium in rooms below 74°F.
Temperature-maintaining heater. Rainbowfish care Maintain adequate filtration and replace 10% of the water weekly or 25% every 2 weeks using an Aqueon Aquarium Water Changer or Siphon Vacuum Gravel Cleaner. Refill your tank with Aqueon Water Conditioner.
RAINBOWFISH HOUSING
Melanotaeniids require plenty of swimming area. Neon Dwarf Rainbow (Melanotaenia. praecox) and Celebes Rainbowfish care (M. ladegesi) may flourish in a 30-gallon aquarium, but most Melanotaeniid rainbowfish requires 50 gallons or more. Tall plants and other buildings offer significant shelter, although open swimming places are also needed. “Blue Eyes” and Threadfin Rainbows thrive in 20-gallon community aquariums or 10-gallon species tanks.
RAINBOWFISH COMPATIBILITY/BEHAVIOR
Melanotaeniid rainbowfish are gentle, and energetic, and get along with most non-aggressive fish. Different species may be maintained together, including bigger tetras, peaceful barbs, rasboras, danios, catfish, and even Kribensis. Rainbowfish should be maintained in groups of 6 or more. Males show their brightest colors to attract ladies.
Threadfin Pseudomugilids Rainbows are gentle and timid, so choose tank mates wisely. Pygmy rasboras, little tetras, tranquil barbs, Otocinclus, and Corydoras catfish are examples. Before purchasing aquarium fish, seek an expert.
RAINBOWFISH DIET
Rainbowfish are omnivores and consume both plants and meat. Aqueon Tropical Flakes, Color Flakes, Spirulina Flakes, and Betta Treat are good for melanotaeniids. Pseudomugilids will eat these meals, however, they may need more frozen and live foods for optimal health and color. Feed your fish just what they can eat in under 2 minutes, once or twice a day.
INTERMEDIATE RAINBOWFISH BREEDING
Rainbowfish scatter eggs and don’t care for them. Rainbowfish care reproduces in plants or yarn mops. A small temperature rise triggers spawning. Temperature and species affect hatching time: 7-21 days.
SIZE & LIFESPAN
Rainbowfish lifespan varies. The Madagascan rainbowfish may live up to 11 years in captivity. Small rainbowfish have shorter lifespans.
Threadfin, Celebes, and forktail rainbowfish have short lifespans. Rainbowfish live longer in a well-kept aquarium. Some species, like the neon rainbowfish, are less than 3 inches. Van Hearn’s rainbowfish grows to 7.9 inches. Female rainbowfish are plumper.
PATTERNS, FINS, AND SEXE
Rainbowfish are colorful and varied. Pink bellies, red fins, and bluey-green bodies are frequent rainbowfish traits. Large eyes, and iridescent scales that change color in the light. Rainbowfish care Sickness or stress causes color loss.
Rainbowfish have two dorsal fins and become colorful as they mature. Male rainbowfish have longer, pointier fins than females.
Popular rainbowfish species have certain traits:
- Deep body with black lateral stripe and red fins. 6″ long.
- Bicolored Boesemani rainbowfish: cool at the head, orange at the tail. Oval-shaped body. 4.5″ long.
- Celebes rainbowfish: Translucent with two dorsal fins of various sizes. Yellow tints the biggest dorsal fin. Male Celebes’ fins are needle-shaped. 3.2″ long.
- Streamlined, silver-scaled Madagascar rainbowfish. Fins and tail yellow. 5.9″ in length.
- Oval, blue rainbowfish with multicolored fins. Males have red fins, females yellow. 3.2″ long.
- Red scales give the red rainbowfish its name. Round-backed red rainbowfish. Six-inch-long.
- Threadfin rainbowfish: body stripes and long, colorful fins. Silver with blue and orange scales. 1.6″ in length.
FOOD AND NUTRITION
Rainbow fish eat everything. Wild rainbowfish feed on mosquito larvae, insects, tiny crustaceans, and zooplankton. The rainbowfish diet should mostly consist of high-quality flakes and pellets, both of which are rich in protein.
The nicest colors in rainbowfish are brought out by feeding them live food twice or three times a week. Live foods including bloodworms, glass worms, daphnia, and mosquito larvae are also good possibilities.
Make sure to give your Rainbowfish care food three times a day. Eat just moderate servings. Do not feed rainbowfish more than they can finish eating in three minutes. Rainbowfish are surface feeders, thus floating items are best. Throw away any unused food to avoid a pileup of trash.
Friendship
Rainbowfish live in groups of six or more. Rainbowfish of comparable size may be kept together. A 3:2 female-to-male ratio reduces violence.
Rainbowfish should be kept alongside other calm species in community aquariums. The Rainbowfish inhabit the tank’s center and top, so they shouldn’t bother bottom-dwellers. Rainbowfish tank mates:
- Angelfish \barbs
- Catfish
- Danios \mollies \platies
- Pecos
- Rasboras (peaceful species) (peaceful species)
- Swordtails
- Tetras
Fast-swimming rainbowfish shouldn’t be kept alongside timid fish. Bettas and cichlids are also aggressive. Fin nippers shouldn’t be used on long-finned rainbows like threadfins.
BREEDING
Egg scatters are rainbowfish. Most rainbowfish reproduce quickly, however, a separate breeding tank boosts young fish survival (fry). Some rainbowfish copy in pairs, while others prefer groups.
Breeding rainbowfish requires a species-specific aquarium. Otherwise, rainbowfish may crossbreed and produce stunted, discolored fry.
Rainbowfish breeding tips:
- 5–10 gallon shallow breeding tank. 77–80°F and pH 7.5 are appropriate for most rainbowfish species.
- Feed live food and progressively raise the water temperature to condition rainbowfish. Spawning needs clean water.
- Java moss and spawning mops help collect eggs. Spawning mops encourage bushy plants.
- Males court by acquiring color and swimming quickly in front of females. Some rainbowfish species acquire a courting stripe.
