Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: The Ornate Rainbowfish typically lives in stagnant streams, tannin-stained streams, calm backwaters or creeks with either no flow, or very little. The Ornate Rainbowfish will group around tree debris and banks dense in vegetation. Geographically, they can be found on the islands and coastal drainages off the coast of Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales in Australia, specifically east of the Great Dividing Range and as far north as Waterpark Creek. Rhadinocentrus ornatus is yet another victim of habitat loss due to land clearing, housing and commercial developments.
PH: 4.0 – 7.0
Temperature: 20°C -32°C (68 – 90F) Although these fish have known to be able to survive in 8°C (47F) waters.
Hardness: 0 – 6 dH
Description: The Ornate Rainbowfish couldn’t be more deserving of its name. With stunning and elaborate decorations of dark scale margins, neon blue scales, shimmering shades of blue, red or pink, and tints of yellow, black, red and purple throughout dependent on the individual specimens, this beautiful little Australian is truly eye-catching. They are a small Rainbowfish and will only grow up to 6cm in length.
Diet: As with all Rainbowfish, the Ornate Rainbowfish are omnivores, easy feeders and will readily accept most commercial foods, whether live or frozen. A prepared food base mixed in with a supplement live diet of insects, small crustaceans, algae, daphnia and spirulina flakes will do the trick. Allow for natural algal growth to further supplement their vegetable intake.
Breeding: Ornate Rainbowfish will readily spawn in aquariums providing you provide specific water conditions; acidic, soft water. Get your breeding pairs into condition by feeding them higher quality and quantities of live and plant based food. Set up a separate breeding tank with suitable spawning medium, that is, lots of fine leaved plants or spawning mops.
While the breeding process is initially simple, the fry can be challenging to raise because of their size. The eggs will hatch within a week and should be removed to a separate tank to avoid predation. If this is not possible, keep the small fry in a well decorated tank with lots of hiding places and a small amount should survive. Feed on microworms or powdered flake food and keep them separate until they are old enough to rejoin the community tank.
Comments: Ornate Rainbowfish are popular in the aquarium hobby because of their exceptional beauty. While they are relatively easy to keep, they are not recommended for beginners simply because of their size, temperament and inability to thrive as well as other rainbows in a community tank. They are very stress-sensitive and delicate.
These little rainbows will do well in a species tank, about 30 litre (8 gallons) – about six Ornate Rainbows will suit this sized tank.
Provide large amounts aquatic vegetation, sheltered areas and other hiding places to keep your fish happy.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species:They will live happily with Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, CorydorasCatfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppyand Platyand 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.
Originally posted 2010-03-15 20:13:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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