Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: Duboulay’s Rainbowfish are found abundantly throughout the eastern coastal drainage river systems of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, specifically from Mullet Creek right through to Hastings River. Small colonies have also been found on Fraser Island off the Queensland coast in Australia. Their natural habitat includes freshwater rivers, streams, reservoirs, swamps, and lagoons with dense aquatic vegetation. They are used to waterways varying significantly in pH and temperature.
PH: 6.5 – 7.5
Temperature: 22°C -25°C (72 – 77F)
Hardness: 5 – 10dH
Description: This pretty Australian native Rainbowfish exhibits the main body and fin colours of red, silver-grey and black with horizontal black and yellow stripes. Both males and females grow up to 9cm (3.5 inches).
Diet: Feed the omnivorous Duboulay’s Rainbowfish up to twice a day on a nutritious balanced diet of live and processed food. They thrive very well on high quality flake food.
Breeding: Breeding Duboulay’s Rainbowfish is very easy. Set up a separate breeding tank with lots of fine leaved plants and warm the water to around 24° – 26° C. Keep the breeding pair in a species only tank as they will cross breed with other Rainbowfish. Get the breeding pair into good condition with high quality food. The eggs will hatch within a week and should be removed to a separate tank to avoid predation.
Comments: Duboulay’s Rainbowfish adapt exceptionally well to a community aquarium as they bring their peaceful, colourful personalities to the fray. Provide aquatic vegetation, submerged logs and other hiding places to keep your fish happy.
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 12:14:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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