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Rainbowfish
/ Melanotaeniinae / Dwarf Rainbowfish
Dwarf Rainbowfish, Black-lined Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia maccullochi | Pictures
Synonyms: Nematocentris
maccullochi
Physical description: An elongated and laterally compressed fish with a small head and a large eye.
There
are two dorsal fins, and the anal fin has a long base.
The male is silver with a blue iridescence.
The flanks are marked with seven lateral
stripes.
These
are yellow becoming red near at the caudal penuncle.
The gill cover is marked with an orange-red
spot.
The fins have a greenish base with blood red outer parts.
The colors of the females are less intense.
Size/Length: To 2.8" (7 cm)
Similar species: Melanotaenia
fluviatilis, M. nigrans
Habitat: Northern Australia.
S: middle, top
Aquarium: A tank measuring 28" (71 cm) with a capacity from 20-25 gallons (76-95 L) is sufficient.
Follow
suggestions for M. fluviatilis.
Water chemistry: pH 7-8 (7.0), 8-15 dH (10), 68-77°F (20-25°C)
Social behavior: A peaceful schooling species recommended for a community tank.
Suggested companions: Rainbowfish, Barbs, Danios, tetras, Gouramis,
Corydoras, Livebearers
FOOD: Live; insect larvae, crustaceans, worms, insects; flakes
SEX: Males more colorful with a pointed first dorsal fins.
Breeding techniques: As for M.
fluviatilis.
The parents will ignore the eggs.
Breeding potential: 5.
Breeding is easy.
Remarks: The Dwarf Rainbow requires frequent partial water changes to fully develop its colors.
Difficulty of care: 3.
This robust fish is suitable for a community tank.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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