All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Mountain rainbowfish

Melanotaenia monticola

Also known as mountain rainbow, highland rainbowfish, southern mountain rainbowfish, mountain rainbow fish, メラノタエニア・モンティコラ, 山地彩虹鱼

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A hardy, fairly deep-bodied rainbowfish from cool highland streams in Papua New Guinea, silvery with a dark midlateral stripe and yellow to reddish fins that brighten in displaying males. It is kept by rainbowfish enthusiasts for its active shoaling behaviour and its tolerance of cooler water than most tropical species.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

18 to 24 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Papua New Guinea: upper Purari River basin (Southern Highlands)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that lays adhesive eggs among fine plants or spawning mops over several days. Breeding is fairly easy in a well-planted tank; fry hatch in about a week and need infusoria or very fine foods at first.

Good to know

Prefers cooler water than typical community tanks, so avoid keeping it permanently above about 25°C. Keep it apart from other Melanotaenia species, or the fish may hybridise and lose the pure line.