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Rainbowfish
/ Pseudomugilinae / Celebes Rainbowfish
Celebes Rainbowfish, Celebes Sailfish
Telmatherina ladigesi | Pictures
Synonyms: None
Physical description: The Celebes Rainbowfish has a slender, elongated body with lateral compression.
There
are two dorsal fins, the first being very small.
The first rays of the second dorsal fin and anal fin develop into long,
thread-like appendages.
Males are yellow-brown in color with blue-green iridescence.
An iridescent blue to green stripe extends
laterally from the caudal fin to the gill cover.
The first dorsal fin is amber colored while the other fins are yellowish.
The
first rays of the second dorsal and anal fins are black.
The edges of the caudal fin are yellow with white
ends.
The rest of the fin is black.
The colors of females are subdued and their fins are shorter.
Size/Length: To 3" (7.5 cm)
Similar species: None
Habitat: Indonesia; in slow-moving water in the foothills of Sulawesi (Celebes), an island
located west of Borneo and east of New Guinea
S: middle
Aquarium: 28" (70 cm) or 20-25 gallons (75 L).
The tank should have densely planted
areas, but also have open swimming areas. Provide a partial cover of floating plants to subdue the overhead lighting.
The
tank should be in a location to receive morning sun.
Use a fine gravel substrate.
The water should be well-aerated.
Water chemistry: pH 7-8 (7.1), 10-25 dH (14), 70-81°F (21-27°C).
A 1% addition of salt is recommended.
This
can be accomplished by adding 7.5 TSP of salt/ 10 gallons (10 g/10 L)
Social behavior: A peaceful, schooling fish recommended for community tanks with fish that can tolerate
brackish water.
Keep this lively fish in groups of five or more.
Suggested companions: Glass fish, Livebearers, Halfbeaks, Bumblebee fish
FOOD: Prefers floating foods.
Flakes; small pellets; live; aquatic and terrestrial insects, brine
shrimp, insect larvae, Tubifex
Sexual differences: Males have larger, more elaborate fins and better coloration.
Breeding techniques: Use cool water with a temperature of 70-73°F (21-23°C).
After courtship, the pair will spawn
among plant leaves.
Spawning takes place of a number of days to a number of weeks.
The first batch of eggs are laid among
the plants and number 30-50.
The successive batches are laid with fewer eggs.
After each laying, the eggs should be
removed as the pair will consume them.
The eggs hatch in 10-14 days.
Raise the fry on crushed flake food
and small live foods.
The fry hang just below the water surface.
They grow very slowly, but reach maturity
at 7 months.
Breeding potential: 7.
Breeding the Celebes Rainbowfish is moderately difficult.
Remarks: This fish is very sensitive to changes in water properties.
When adding the Celebes Rainbowfish
to a tank, always allow adequate transfer acclimation time.
Wild-caught specimen are very delicate and often
live for only a short time.
This fish needs frequent partial water changes to prosper.
Difficulty of care: 6.
The Celebes Rainbowfish is sensitive to water conditions.
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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