All fish / Telmatherinidae

Celebes rainbowfish

Marosatherina ladigesi

Also known as celebes rainbow, celebes sailfin, celebes sailfin silverside, ladigesi, telmatherina ladigesi, marosatherina, セレベスレインボー, ikan beseng-beseng, beseng-beseng, 苏拉威西彩虹, 燕子美人

A slim, translucent yellowish fish with a shining blue line along the flank and males that carry long black and yellow streamers on the second dorsal and anal fins. It is kept for these flowing fins and for the lively displays males put on in a well lit, planted tank with gentle current.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia, plus quality flakes and micro pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southwest Sulawesi, Indonesia (Maros karst streams)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that lays a few eggs each day among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several weeks. Breeding is fairly easy if eggs are moved to a separate container, where fry hatch in about 8 to 12 days and take infusoria then baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

Prefers hard, alkaline, clean water and dislikes soft acidic conditions. Wild populations in Sulawesi are listed as Vulnerable, so captive bred stock is preferable.