Forktail Blue Eye Rainbowfish
Pseudomugil furcatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
Species profile
Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia praecox
Common names: Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish, Praecox Rainbowfish
Recognized speciesRainbowfish
Adult size
Up to 8 cm
Typical adult length 5–8 cm.
Up to 8 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A planted community aquarium of medium size
- A keeper who wants rainbowfish without a very long tank
- A shoal of 6 to 8 or more
Think carefully if
- You can keep only a few fish
- Your tank has no lid
- You have very small shrimp you want to protect
A small, shimmering rainbowfish from New Guinea with a metallic blue body and red fins. It is one of the best rainbowfish for a medium-sized community tank.
Appearance and Identification
A metallic, iridescent blue body that shimmers as the fish turns. Males have red fins, while females have yellow to orange fins.
The metallic blue body and red fins in males are the key features. It is smaller than many rainbowfish.
Males are larger, more brightly coloured, and develop deeper bodies as they mature.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 220–280 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 55 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 60 cm
- Minimum group size
- 6
- Recommended group size
- 8
- Activity level
- Active
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Provide swimming space with plants along the back and sides, and gentle to moderate flow. A lid helps stop this active fish from jumping.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Active and peaceful. Males regularly display to females and to each other, especially early in the day.
Keep at least 6 to 8, and preferably more, with females included.
Not territorial. Male displays are usually harmless.
Good with peaceful barbs, tetras, rasboras, corydoras, and other small rainbowfish. Shrimplets may be eaten, but adult shrimp are usually safe.
Water Parameters
Neutral, moderately hard water suits this fish. Keep it clean and well oxygenated.
Parameter caveat
Acclimate slowly and avoid sudden changes.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Preferred foods
- Quality flake or small granulesUse as the staple, and feed small amounts because these fish rarely chase food to the bottom.
- Frozen or live daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodwormOffer a few times a week for colour and condition.
- Spirulina or vegetable flakeAdds plant matter that a meat-heavy diet lacks.
An omnivore that takes small foods mainly from the upper and middle water.
Regular frozen or live foods improve colour and condition.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Scatterer
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Breeding temperature
- 25 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7
- Brood or egg count
- A small number of eggs each day over several days
- Incubation
- 8 days
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- Infusoria or parameciumNeeded for the first days after fry become free-swimming, because the fry are very small.
- Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly as a supplement, and siphon out anything left uneaten.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce once the fry are large enough to swallow it, usually after several days.
- MicrowormsA useful next step for fry that are still too small for brine shrimp.
An egg scatterer. Use a breeding tank at least 45 cm long with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Remove eggs to a separate tank, since adults eat them. Eggs hatch in 7 to 10 days, and fry start on infusoria before moving to brine shrimp.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Indonesia, Oceania
- Natural habitat
- Clearwater, Freshwater River, Freshwater Stream
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Melanotaenia
- Family
- Melanotaeniidae
- Species group
- Fish, Rainbowfish
Have you kept this species?
You can write a note about what worked for you, or send a photograph. We check everything before it appears here.
Share a note or photo
Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia lacustris
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10–12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 110 litres
- Temperature
- 20–25 °C
Lake Tebera Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C
Lake Wanam Rainbowfish
Glossolepis wanamensis
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 25–30 °C