All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Misool rainbowfish

Melanotaenia misoolensis

Also known as misool rainbow, misool island rainbowfish, misool rainbow fish, メラノタエニア・ミソオレンシス, pelangi misool, 米苏尔彩虹鱼

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A deep-bodied rainbowfish from a few streams on Misool Island, with silvery blue flanks, a dark midlateral band and reddish fins that deepen in colour on mature males. It is kept for its lively shoaling behaviour and the bright courtship displays of males in a planted tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and 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

Misool Island, West Papua, Indonesia

Breeding

An egg scatterer that lays a few adhesive eggs each day among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several weeks. Eggs hatch in about a week and the tiny fry need infusoria or liquid fry food at first, but breeding is straightforward.

Good to know

It has a very small native range and wild populations are vulnerable, so keep strains pure and avoid crossing with other Melanotaenia species. Needs a long tank with swimming space as it is an active fish.