Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: Found in south western Papua New Guinea, the Fly River Rainbowfish lives in an area that has not been properly surveyed – this doesn’t allow for the full knowledge of its actual geographic distribution. From what we know, the Fly River Rainbowfish is found in the small, clear, lowland rainforest creeks near Kiunga.
PH: 6.1 – 7.5
Temperature: 24°C – 26°C (75 – 79F)
Hardness: 5 – 8dH.
Description: With a length of up to 7cm and vibrant body colouration ranging from luminescent bronze green to golden yellow with thin black stripes, it is easy to see why the Fly River Rainbowfish has become popular in the aquarium hobby.
Diet: The Fly River Rainbowfish needs a nutritious, varied omnivorous diet. This could include a base of dried flaked food with supplements of live food, such as brine shrimp or insect larvae.
Breeding: Breeding Fly River Rainbowfish can be quite fruitful if you keep the water temperature within the upper reaches of the recommended range. This will mimic the abundant wet season. Get your breeding pairs into condition by feeding them larger (than normal) quantities of live food. Set up a separate breeding tank with lots of fine leaved plants, like java moss, or spawning mops.
The eggs will hatch within ten days and should be removed to a separate tank to avoid predation. Feed the tiny fry on baby brine shrimp or vinegar eels and keep them separate until they are ready to rejoin the community tank. The quality of the young fish can be quite bad so careful selection is reccomended.
Comments: The Fly River Rainbowfish adapts well to aquarium life and is known to thrive well in small 35L (9 gallon) aquariums. This sized tank will house a group of five fishes quite well.
Mimic their natural environment by providing abundant back and side aquatic vegetation and plentiful floating plant life to shade the Fly River Rainbowfish from the lighting. Provide good filtration and open swimming areas for a healthy community of Fly River Rainbowfish.
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.
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