Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: The sensitive Celebes Rainbowfish is endemic to Sulawesi (Celebes), an Indonesian island located west of Borneo and east of Papua New Guinea. It is specifically found in the fresh slow-moving waters in the foothills of this area. Additionally, Marosatherian ladigesi has also be found in the Philippines. They are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
PH: At least 7.0 – 8.0
Temperature: 25°C -30°C (77 – 86F)
Hardness: 10-20dH
Description: With large eyes, a neon green-blue stripe that runs along the backbone of the fish, and distinctive two-toned fins that vary from black to lemon, the slender Celebes Rainbowfish will add an individual brilliance to any hard water aquarium. The males usually have longer fins and slightly brighter colours than the females but other than that, the two sexes are very similar. Immature Celebes Rainbowfish take a while to grow into their beautiful colours, often displaying colourless fins and noticeably duller body colouration. They grow up to 7.5cm (3 inches) and live for up to 5 years.
Diet: Feed the omnivorous Celebes Rainbowfish up to twice a day on a nutritious balanced diet of live and processed food. As their throats are small, cater accordingly by feeding smaller types of food. Such foods as blood worms, brine shrimp, insect larvae and tubifex will keep your brightly coloured Celebes happy and healthy.
Breeding: It is believed that breeding the Celebes Rainbowfish is moderately difficult, and quite uncommon, although certainly possible. Start by setting up a separate breeding tank with lots of fine leaved plants such as Cambomba, Java Moss, Mifoil or Riccia. For best results, cool the water to 21-23°C (70-73F) and the breeding pair should begin to spawn among plant leaves. Once hatched, remove the fry to a separate tank to avoid predation. Raise the slow-growing fry on small live food, such as baby brine shrimp, or crushed flakes. Please note that it could take up to five months before it is safe to allow the fry to rejoin the community aquarium.
Comments: Simulate the natural environment of the Celebes Rainbowfish as much as possible. However, there are a few extra things you can do to provide the most spectacular environment for this little wonder. These include positioning the tank to allow for extra sunlight, adding an extra half a teaspoon of salt per gallon of water and providing dense aquatic plant cover (Water Wisteria, Hornwort, Java Moss).
Go for a tightly fitted top for your tank as these fish are vivacious swimmers and jumpers. Change 25-50% of the water each week as Celebes Rainbowfish are sensitive to water quality.
If you know that your specimen comes directly from the wild, you will need to be extra careful, as wild-caught Celebes Rainbowfish are very delicate.
Tip: Most aquarium stock come from the wild, so keep its vulnerability listing in mind when you purchase one. Intricate fins mean that they are extra susceptible to diseases like fin rot.
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 11:23:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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