All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Ajamaru Lakes rainbowfish

Melanotaenia ajamaruensis

Also known as ajamaru rainbowfish, ajamaru lake rainbowfish, ajamaru rainbow, ajamaruensis rainbowfish, メラノタエニア・アジャマルエンシス, ikan pelangi ajamaru, 阿雅玛鲁彩虹鱼

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A deep-bodied rainbowfish with a silvery to bluish body, a dark band along the flank and yellowish to reddish fins, with mature males growing a taller back and brighter colours. It comes from the same small upland lake area as the Boeseman's rainbowfish and is kept by rainbowfish enthusiasts for its active shoaling and its rarity in the hobby.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and small 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

Ajamaru Lakes and Ajamaru River system, Vogelkop (Bird's Head) Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia

Breeding

Spawns over several days among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, laying small sticky eggs that hatch in about a week. Breeding is fairly easy, but the fry are tiny and need infusoria or liquid fry food before moving on to baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

Seldom seen in shops and easily confused with Boeseman's rainbowfish or hybrids, so buy from breeders who keep pure lines and do not mix it with related Melanotaenia. It has a very small natural range and is threatened in the wild, so captive-bred stock is preferable.