Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: Lakamora Rainbowfish are found in Lake Lakamora and Lake Aiwaso of the Triton Lakes in Western New Guinea.
PH: 7.0 – 8.0
Temperature: 24°C – 27°C (75 – 81F)
Hardness: 6 – 14dH
Description: Melanotaenia lakamora grow up to 5.5cm and exhibit a beautiful silver reflective body with dark mid-lateral stripes and orange-yellow fins and tail. The males are more deeper bodied than the females.
Diet: Lakamora Rainbowfish will thrive on a mixed nutritious omnivorous diet with a base of flake or pellet food and weekly live or frozen food treats.
Breeding: While Lakamora Rainbowfish are not common in the aquarium hobby anymore, it has been said by expert aquarists that they can be quite simple to breed. It is suggested that you feed your breeding pairs larger quantities of live food than usual to get them into breeding condition. Set up a separate breeding tank with abundant fine leaved plants, like java moss, or provide artificial spawning mops.
The eggs will hatch within two days and should be removed to a separate tank to avoid predation. Feed on baby brine shrimp or similar.
Comments: These fish are currently uncommon in the aquarium hobby despite the fact that they are easy to keep and suitable for any enthusiastic, knowledgeable aquarist. This has not always been the case and they are certainly available for purchase within aquarist circles.
Lakamora Rainbowfish do best in community and species aquariums that provide large open swimming areas. Cater for their occasionally timid nature by providing hiding spots created by drift wood and dense aquatic vegetation. Make sure your tank has a tight-fitting lid as they have been known to jump.
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 12:39:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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