All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Van Heurn's rainbowfish

Melanotaenia vanheurni

Also known as van heurn's rainbow, vanheurni rainbowfish, van heurn rainbowfish, vanheurn rainbowfish, メラノタエニア・ヴァンヒュールニ, ikan pelangi van heurn, 范氏彩虹鱼

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This is one of the larger rainbowfish. Adult males grow deep bodied, with blue-grey to bluish flanks, a dark midline band and reddish or orange fins. It is kept as a hardy, active centrepiece shoaling fish for big planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

300 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 plant matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Northern New Guinea, Indonesia (Papua): Mamberamo River system

Breeding

It scatters eggs over fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days. The eggs hatch in about a week, and the fry need infusoria and then baby brine shrimp. Breeding in captivity is fairly easy.

Good to know

Adults are large, fast swimmers, so give them a long tank with plenty of open swimming space. Do not keep them with other Melanotaenia species if you want pure stock, as they hybridise readily.