All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Leggett's rainbowfish

Glossolepis leggetti

Also known as leggetti rainbowfish, leggett's red rainbowfish, glossolepis leggetti, leggetti rainbow, red leggetti, グロッソレピス・レゲッティ, ikan pelangi leggetti, 莱氏彩虹鱼

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This is a deep-bodied rainbowfish from northern New Guinea, and it was described in 2008. Mature males turn a warm reddish orange with a raised back, while females stay more silvery. It is kept as an active, peaceful shoaling fish that brings colour to a planted community tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Papua New Guinea: Sepik River basin (Pual River area), northern New Guinea

Breeding

It spawns among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days. The eggs are adhesive and hatch in about a week. Breeding is easy, and the fry need infusoria or other very fine foods at first.

Good to know

It is rare in the trade and few people keep it, so fish sold under this name may be mislabelled or hybrids. Keep it apart from Glossolepis incisus and other red rainbowfish to keep the line pure.