All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Bleher's rainbowfish

Chilatherina bleheri

Also known as bleher's rainbow, bleheri rainbowfish, bleher rainbowfish, chilatherina bleheri, holmes rainbowfish, ブレヘリ・レインボー, ikan pelangi bleher, 布氏彩虹鱼

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A deep-bodied rainbowfish whose mature males turn silvery green at the front and deep red to orange over the rear half of the body and fins. It is kept for its strong colour, lively shoaling behaviour and peaceful nature in large, well-planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 6 or more, ideally with more females than males

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, plus some vegetable matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Holmes, Mamberamo River basin, West Papua (Indonesian New Guinea)

Breeding

Pairs scatter adhesive eggs over fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days, with no parental care. Breeding is fairly easy in captivity, and the tiny fry need infusoria or liquid fry food before moving on to baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

Considered threatened in its single lake habitat, so captive-bred stock is preferable. It is an active swimmer that needs a long tank, and it can hybridise with other rainbowfish, so keep species apart if you plan to breed them.