All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Yakati rainbowfish

Melanotaenia angfa

Also known as yakati rainbow, angfa rainbowfish, melanotaenia sp. yakati, yakati river rainbowfish, ikan pelangi yakati

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A deep-bodied rainbowfish from West Papua whose males show yellow to orange tones, a dark blue-black mid-body stripe and reddish fins, becoming taller in the body as they mature. It is kept for its active schooling behaviour and the bright courtship displays of males in a spacious planted tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °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 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

Yakati River and nearby streams, Bintuni Bay area, West Papua, Indonesia

Breeding

An egg scatterer that lays adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days. Breeding is easy; move the mops to a separate tank and feed the fry infusoria, then baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

Males grow deep and robust and need a long tank with swimming space. Avoid mixing with other Melanotaenia species to prevent hybridisation.