Melanotaenia trifasciata (Banded Rainbowfish)
Banded Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia trifasciata
Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: The Banded Rainbowfish can only be found in Australia’s Northern Territory and Cape York Peninsula, specifically Melville Island, Mary River, Arnhem Land and Groote Eylandt in Northern Territory and north of Archer River the McIvor River in Cape York. The Banded Rainbowfish is found in small creeks and streams with clear water with a gravel rocky bottom, often covered in leaf litter and submerged logs.
PH: 6.0 – 8.0
Temperature: 25° -30°C (77 – 86F)
Hardness: 12 – 16DH
Description: The Banded Rainbowfish is a brilliant little river fish known for its bold tip-to-tail colours. Available in 30 varieties, the Banded Rainbowfish is typical in rainbowfish appearance; long, deep-bodied, arched back and narrow head. Each variety has a different radiant colour system and can range from red, green, blue, purple or yellow bodies and red or yellow fins. Banded Rainbowfish have big eyes and two dorsal fins. They grow to about 13cm (5 inches).
Diet: Into a base of top quality flake or pellet food, add live meaty food and even fresh vegetables. This rich diet of live and pre-made food should keep your rainbowfish healthy and fulfilled.
Breeding: Set up a separate breeding tank filled with dense vegetation like java moss. Make sure your healthy adult rainbowfish are fed well with larger quantities of higher quality food than you would normally supply. The male will produce an amazing display of intense colours to direct the female to the spawning site, after which the female will lay eggs. This will occur daily.
Banded Rainbowfish breed readily and while acidic water is recommended, they will
breed actively in almost any water quality. Allow for at least two females to every male to prevent stressing out the poor females as they get chased around by their would-be mates.
It is advisable to move the spawning medium into a different container to avoid predation. Feed fry with newly hatched brine shrimp or powdered flake food.
Comments: Melanotaenia trifasciata are exceptionally peaceful schooling fish and are easy to keep in a large community aquarium. Keep a well-planted tank with a dark substrate. Opt for at least a 120cm (50 inch) tank to allow for open swimming areas. For a display of those amazing vibrant colours that make this species of rainbowfish a delight to keep, expose the aquarium to one to two hours of sunlight.
It is vital that at least 25-50% of the water is replaced each week to best mimic the clear waters of their natural habitat.
Tip: These fish are skilled jumpers so be sure to secure a well-fitting top to your aquarium!
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 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 2009-11-03 23:40:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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Banded rainbow fish,
Banded rainbow fishes,
Banded rainbowfish,
Banded rainbowfishes,
Melanotaenia trifasciata
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