All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Mayland's rainbowfish

Melanotaenia maylandi

Also known as mayland's rainbowfish, maylandi rainbowfish, maylands rainbow, mayland rainbowfish, melanotaenia maylandi, メラノタエニア・マイランディ, ikan pelangi mayland, 梅兰彩虹鱼

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This is a deep-bodied rainbowfish from northern New Guinea. Adults show a dark stripe along the side, and the fins turn yellow to orange-red, with males growing taller backs and brighter colours. People keep it as a lively, hardy schooling fish for large planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

24 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 plant matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Indonesia: Mamberamo River basin, northern Papua (New Guinea)

Breeding

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

Good to know

It is active and needs a long tank with plenty of swimming room. It looks very like other Mamberamo rainbowfish and may hybridise with them, so do not keep it with close relatives if you want pure stock.