Lake Tebera Rainbowfish

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Scientific Name

Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi

Min. Tank Size

40 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

68-79°F

pH

7.0-8.0/10-15°dGH

Size

4"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Other Rainbowfish, Barbs, Danios, Characins, Gobies, Catfish and Rift Lake Cichlids. Consider housing a large group in a species tank for a magnificent display.

Lake Tebera Rainbowfish

These fish are named for their native habitat, the Lake Tebera basin in Papua New Guinea. Lake Tebera Rainbowfish are typically found in the clear, densely vegetated waters of the lake and surrounding tributaries. These fish are some of the most brightly-colored Rainbowfish, exhibiting brilliant yellow bodies ornamented with a dark mid-lateral stripe. The fins of this species tend to be either yellow or red and mature males are more colorful and deeper-bodied than the females.

Tank Set-Up

Lake Tebera Rainbowfish are relatively easy to care for in the home aquarium as long as the water quality is kept high. These fish prefer heavily planted tanks with slow water flow and plenty of open swimming space – a long tank would be ideal and a much better choice than a tall tank. As with most Rainbowfish, a ratio of two females to one male is recommended. These fish are active schoolers so keep as many as your budget and space allows – the minimum should be at least 6 to 8. Lake Tebera Rainbowfish are very peaceful in nature and should not be kept with boisterous or aggressive species. High water quality is important for the health and well-being of this species. Therefore, weekly partial water changes are a must.

Feeding

In the wild the Lake Tebera Rainbowfish is known to eat ants, algae, and beetle-like insects. In the home aquarium you’ll find this species to be unfussy in it’s eating habits. It will accept just about any foods offered. For optimum health and coloration, feed a varied diet of live/frozen foods such as brine shrimp, Daphnia, and bloodworms along with a high quality flake.

Breeding

Lake Tebera Rainbowfish are one of the most prolific spawners of all Rainbowfish so getting yours to breed shouldn’t be a problem. These fish should be conditioned in groups using plenty of live and frozen foods and the best-colored pair should be selected for spawning. The water in the breeding tank should be somewhat hard and alkaline with a pH around 7.5 and a temperature between 72 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The eggs should be removed after spawning to prevent the adults from consuming them.