All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Waigeo rainbowfish

Melanotaenia catherinae

Also known as waigeo rainbow, catherine's rainbowfish, catherinae rainbowfish, waigeo island rainbowfish, メラノタエニア・カテリナエ, pelangi waigeo, 韦格奥彩虹鱼

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

This rainbowfish has a deep, silvery body with a dark stripe along its side and yellow to orange fins, and males grow taller and more colourful as they age. It is kept for its lively shoaling behaviour and its bright colours in planted community tanks, and it is a fairly rare species in the hobby.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia

Breeding

It scatters eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days, and the eggs hatch in about a week. Breeding is easy, and the fry can be raised on infusoria and then baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

It is an active swimmer and needs a long tank with plenty of open space. Keep the line pure by not mixing it with other Melanotaenia species, as they can hybridise.