Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: The entire geographic distribution of Lorentz’s Rainbowfish is still yet undetermined. For now, we know that it lives in the Sermoiwai and Tawarin river systems of West Papua, and from Puive Creek in Papua New Guinea. Current research shows that their preferred habitat includes shadowed, slow-flowing waterways surrounded by dense rainforest.
PH: 7.5 -8.0
Temperature: 26°C -30°C (79 – 86F)
Hardness: 2 – 16dH
Description: One of the bigger Rainbowfish, Lorentz’s Rainbowfish can reach a length of at least 12 cm. The sides of Lorentz’s Rainbowfish range from blue to silver and the body is brown to olive. Male fish exhibit a broad black mid-lateral stripe.
Diet: As with most rainbows, Lorentz’s Rainbowfish will eat almost anything. Provide a combination of protein and vegetable based foods for optimal health. Live foods can supplement a base of dried or pellet vegetable food.
Breeding:
There are no current records of Lorentz’s Rainbowfish having been bred successfully in the aquarium hobby.
Comments:
Lorentz’s Rainbowfish is very uncommon in the aquarium hobby. If you wish to do so, try to copy its natural habitat as much as possible by providing low aquarium lighting, an abundance of submerged logs, open swimming areas and floating plants. Stress is common in this species so make sure hiding spots are plentiful.
Aim for a tank sized at least 60cm.
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 11:08:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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