Axelrod’s Rainbowfish
Chilatherina axelrodi
Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution:Chilatherina axelrodi are only found in the Yungkiri stream in the north western part of Papua New Guinea. Typically its preferred habitat is a narrow stream with gentle moving, cloudy water surrounded by lush rainforest.
PH: 7.5-7.8
Temperature: 26°C – 30°C (78-81F)
Hardness: Up 15gDH.
Description:Male Chilatherian axelrodi can reach a length of approximately 10 cm and are more energetic and vivid than their timid female counterparts, who grow up to eight cm long. Next to the colourful males, the female silvery bodies look rather ordinary. The male fish have pointed fins, and are bluish-grey above, and silvery-white below the mid-lateral line. Their mid-lateral line is striking in a series of large black spots. The fins are transparent with a yellowish tinge. These dynamic swimmers live for up to five years.
Diet: Like all of the Rainbowfish species, the Axelrod’s Rainbowfish need a mixed omnivorous diet to provide optimal health. This would include live, frozen and vegetable based aquarium food in order to best mimic the Chilatherian axelrodi’s diet in the wild. As filamentous algae make up a large portion of the Axelrod’s Rainbowfish natural diet, supplement its diet with algae based flakes.
Breeding: Axelrod’s Rainbowfish are relatively easy to breed but the fry can be difficult to keep alive.
Set up a separate breeding tank of approximately 30 litres (8 gallons), and provide an abundance of java moss or similar in your set up and make sure to feed your fish a diet abundant in live food.
Be prepared for vigorous and aggressive chasing. Provide a couple of females for each male to reduce the stress of the chase. Eggs will be deposited daily and the vegetation will be used as the spawning medium.
As long as your fish are well fed and the vegetation plentiful, you may not need to remove the parents. Even with these safeguards, the parents could still eat their young.
As the fry are extra sensitive, pay careful attention to the water quality; keeping the temperature and pH levels steady at 26°C/78F and pH at 7.5-7.8 respectively.
Tip: For more vibrant colours, expose your Axelrod’s Rainbowfish to an extra few hours of sunlight.
Comments:Axelrod’s Rainbowfish are recommended for beginners given their predictable rainbowfish nature of hardiness and peacefulness. The most favourable tank set ups would be at least 75L (20 gallons), sparsely stocked, with alot of vegetation to provide the shy females with hiding spots. They like medium light and spend most of their time near the surface, so the horizontal length of the aquarium is more important than the depth. .
As with all rainbowfish, Axelrod’s prefers an active social life rather than that of solitude ensuring that they will thrive in a school of fellow rainbowfish. They are active swimmers so be sure to provide open swimming areas.
Article/Books:
Culturing Live Foods: A Step-By-Step Guide to Producing Food for Your Home Aquarium
Setting up a Tropical Aquarium Week by Week
Today’s Essential Guide to Growing Aquarium Plants: The Aquamaster Series
Recommended Compatible Species: Rainbowfish are a great community species in terms of their temperament and therefore live happily with most Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, CorydorasCatfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and 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.
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