Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: Mayland’s Rainbowfish lives in a limited region in the Mamberamo area of Western New Guinea. Found upstream from Lake Holmes, it prefers narrow creeks with dense shadowy vegetation and rocky bottoms.
PH: 7.0 -7.5
Temperature: 26°C (79F)
Hardness: 10gH
Description: Adult male Mayland’s Rainbowfish are olive green to brown on the upper body and silver-white on the lower parts of the body. Between each horizontal scale row, there is a thin bluish stripe. Females are usually smaller than the largest male size of 13cm (up to 5 inches).
Diet: A nutritious varied omnivorous diet will keep your Mayland’s Rainbowfish in top form. Feed regular portions of live food, including insect larvae, worms, insects, bloodworms and shrimps.
Breeding: As far as we know, Mayland’s Rainbowfish has not been bred in aquariums. Believed to be similar in reproductive habits to Melanotaenia affinis, the safest way is to utilize the information regarding the aforementioned species. Set up a separate breeding tank with lots of fine leaved plants, like java moss, or provide artificial spawning mops. After hatching, the fry should be removed to a separate tank to avoid predation. Feed on crushed algal flake or baby brine shrimp, and keep them separate until they are ready to rejoin the community tank.
Comments: Mayland’s Rainbowfish is rare in the aquarium hobby, not because it is difficult to keep, but rather that it can be tricky to come by due to the isolated nature of its natural environment.
Should you manage to obtain a Mayland’s Rainbowfish, mimic the natural shadowy habitat of the Mamberamo region by using dim aquarium lighting, providing rocks, submerged driftwood and floating plants.
They should do well in a species or community aquarium providing you adhere to their water chemistry conditions. Make sure you have a tank large enough for open swimming areas and change the water regularly.
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 12:05:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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