Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: Potentially distribuited throughout the southern coast of eastrn Papua New Guinea between the Kemp River and Milne Bay, Melanotaenia parkinsoni were originally collected from a small isolated pool surrounded by grassy plains and rainforest.
PH: 7.0 -8.0
Temperature: 24°C – 30°C (75 – 86F)
Hardness: 8-10gH
Description: Reaching up to 15cm in length, the mature male Melanotaenia parkinsoni can display a magnificent array of colours; silver body, rose-coloured chest and narrow scale row stripes with bright orange fins, often with a ragged appearance. The poor females are rather drab in comparison, being smaller and far less colourful.
Diet: Parkinson’s rainbowfish are easy to feed and will take all leading brands of tropical granular and flake foods. Feed regular portions of live food, including insect larvae, worms, insects, bloodworms and shrimps to keep your fish in top health.
Breeding: Breeding Parkinson’s rainbowfish is very simple. They are prolific breeders and are not fussy about water chemistry. The tricky process is in the raising of the fry, as they are small and grow very slowly.
After hatching, the fry should be removed to a separate tank to avoid predation. Feed on vinegar eels and keep them separate as the parents will eat them. They will require very small food and very clean water. As mentioned, they will be very small so keep them separate for at least a couple of months until they grow larger.
Comments: Parkinson’s Rainbowfish are very hardy fish and as such, are suitable for enthusiastic beginners. Keep your Parkinson’s Rainbowfish in at least a 55 gallon well-planted (fine-leaved plants) tank. They need to swim so allow for open swimming zones, especially in the middle section as that is where they spend most of their time.
They are known to be zippy fish who dart around the aquarium constantly and in their excitement, they have been known to jump so keep your lid securely fixed.
To bring out their colours even more, provide a couple of hours of sunlight per day.
They will adapt well in a single sex/mixed sex species or community aquarium.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species:
For best colouration, keep several male rainbows in one tank.
Melanotaenia parkinsoni exhibit the usual peaceful temperament of the rainbowfish variety and despite their size, will feel threatened by aggressive fish. As such, choose playful, good-natured fish of the same size, 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.
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