Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: Most of the collections of the Papuan Rainbowfish have been found in rainforest and freshwater streams within a 30km radius of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. As yet, the full geographic distribution of Melanotaenia papuae is undetermined.
PH: 7.5 -8.0
Temperature: 22°C – 30°C (72 – 86F)
Hardness: 12-16gH
Description: Melanotaenia papuae exhibit a body colouration of olive-green grading out to either red/purple or yellow/orange, depending on sex, above the mid-lateral line and silvery white below with a red spot and black line features. Females are smaller, at 6cm, and less vibrantly coloured than the males, who grow up to 8cm.
Diet: A nutritious varied omnivorous diet will keep your Papuan Rainbowfish in top form. Feed regular portions of live food, including insect larvae, worms, insects, bloodworms and shrimps. They will also eat dry food.
Breeding: The information available about breeding Papuan Rainbowfish in the aquarium hobby is quite sketchy and rather limited.
It is known that breeding these little beauties can be labour intensive and difficult – definitely not recommended for the aquarist newcomer.
To start the breeding process, set up a separate breeding tank with lots of fine leaved plants, like java moss, or provide artificial spawning mops. About 20-30 eggs will be laid and after a week, they should hatch.
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. They will be very small so keep them separate for at least a couple of months until they grow larger.
Comments: Papuan Rainbowfish were once very popular in the aquarium hobby but now are rarely seen. If you do manage to get your hands on one, it is in your best interest, and your fish, to mimic its natural habitat.
Keep your Papuan Rainbowfish in a tank no smaller than 80cm (30 inches) in length, and ensure it is well-planted with floating vegetation, has slow currents and shadowy lighting. Pay careful attention to nitrate levels as these fish can be sensitive to rapid changes in water chemistry.
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:
Melanotaenia goldei or other such peaceful, similar sized rainbowfish, such as Melanotaenia sexlineata, would serve well as companionable tankmates. The former rainbow is found in the same water systems as Papuan Rainbowfish and will complement each other in a tank. Try danios, They should live happily with most Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.
Originally posted 2010-04-20 23:41:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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