All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Oktedi rainbowfish

Melanotaenia oktediensis

Also known as oktedi rainbow, ok tedi rainbowfish, oktedi rainbowfish

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This rainbowfish comes from clear, fast-flowing upland streams in western Papua New Guinea. Adults have a silvery body with a dark midlateral band, and males grow deeper bodies with fins edged in yellow and red. Keepers like it because it is hardy, active and looks good in a shoal in a large planted tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

200 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 some plant matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Papua New Guinea: Ok Tedi and upper Fly River system

Breeding

It scatters its eggs over fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, laying a few each day across several days. The eggs hatch in about a week, and the fry need infusoria or other very fine foods at first. Breeding in captivity is straightforward.

Good to know

It is an active swimmer and needs a long tank with good water flow and oxygenation. It is rarely seen in the trade, so check that stock is not a mislabelled hybrid, and do not keep it with other Melanotaenia species if you want pure fry.