Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: Melanotaenia oktediensis is currently listed as vulnerable, due to water pollution caused by the Ok Tedi copper mine. Oktedi Rainbowfish is only present in the Ok Tedi River, and respective tributaries, in the Upper Fly River System. Their habitat consists of dense rainforest vegetation, cool, clear mountain waters and rocky bottoms.
PH: 7.0 – 9.0
Temperature: 22°C -26°C (72 – 79F)
Hardness: 12gH
Description: With a body combination of copper brown to white or lilac and a dark mid-lateral stripe, the Oktedi Rainbowfish can grow up to 12 cm (4.7 inches).
Diet: In nature, the Oktedi Rainbowfish lives on a diet of algae and ants. Therefore, in an aquarium environment, a combination meat, including insect larvae and brine shrimp, and plant based food plan would suffice. Natural algae is beneficial, but always supplement it with vegetable based food. Don’t feed your Oktedi Rainbowfish dead food because colouration will become less intense.
A nutritious varied omnivorous diet will keep your New Guinea Rainbowfish in good form. Use dried food as a base and supplement with live or frozen food. They are not picky eaters and will even nibble at lettuce or spinach.
Breeding: Breeding the Oktedi Rainbowfish can be quite simple if you mimic the natural habitat during the abundant wet season by raising the temperature to the upper echelons of the recommended range. Get your breeding pairs into condition by feeding them larger quantities of live food. Set up a separate breeding tank with lots of fine leaved plants, like java moss, or spawning mops.
The eggs should be removed to a separate tank to avoid predation. Feed on baby brine shrimp or similar and keep them separate until they are large enough to rejoin the community tank.
Comments: The popular Oktedi Rainbowfish is known to be an easy rainbow to keep worldwide. Use their natural environment as a template for your aquarium – include hiding spots created by rocks and plentiful aquatic vegetation. Use powerful aeration to mimic the fast-flowing currents of mountain streams.
Change the water regularly and keep nitrate levels low to non-existent. Oktedi Rainbowfish are active swimmers and will need large open areas for swimming. They are suitable for both species and community tanks.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species:
Rainbowfish are a great community species in terms of their temperament and apart from other Rainbowfish species they also live happily with most Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, CorydorasCatfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbaiand Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppyand Platy and most Gourami(such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio(particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish make great tank mates. One thing you should take into consideration when housing rainbows with these recommended species is the water quality. Temperature and Hardness are similar but P.H. can be quite different, although it is not ideal, if you keep your water at a P.H. of 7 this should keep your community happy.
Rainbowfish are schooling fish and should be kept in groups consisting of at least six individuals, preferably no less than 10-15. Mix it up with enough females to give them a rest when the males are on the chase, but provide enough males to bring out their vibrant colours when they are in competition for female attention. Whilst this is beneficial to the health and wellbeing of the fish, a large school is rewarding for the aquarist because a school of iridescent Rainbowfish is more dramatic to the eye than a few shy fish peeking out from behind dense vegetation.
Originally posted 2009-11-22 13:05:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
