Red-Striped Rainbowfish

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Scientific Name

Melanotaenia splendida rubrostriata

Min. Tank Size

55 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

75-86°F

pH

5.6-7.4/5-18°dGH

Size

5.75"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Other Rainbowfish, Danios, Barbs, Characins, and Catfish. For a more exciting display consider a species tank appropriately sized to house 15 – 18 fish.

Red-Striped Rainbowfish

The Red-Striped Rainbowfish is one of the most widely distributed species of Rainbowfish in New Guinea. These fish can be found in shallow lakes, streams and lagoons all over Papua New Guinea and in parts of Indonesia. Red-Striped Rainbowfish tend to inhabit clear, turbid waters filled with dense vegetation. This species of Rainbowfish is named for the thin stripe that runs laterally along the body. This stripe, which may be orange or pinkish in color, is typically superimposed on a bluish gray body.

Tank Set-Up

This species can be found in both acidic and alkaline habitats and, thus, it is fairly adaptable to a variety of water conditions in the home tank. Red-Striped Rainbowfish prefer heavily planted aquariums that also provide adequate open space for swimming. To mimic the natural habitat of this species a densely planted tank around the back and sides with some floating plants and driftwood for additional cover would be ideal. These fish are quite peaceful in nature but, due to their size and rapid movements, they may intimidate smaller or timid species of fish. Therefore, when keeping with other species, choose tankmates of similar size and activity level. Like many Rainbowfish, the Red-Striped Rainbowfish is most likely to thrive when kept in groups of at least six to eight of its own species.

Feeding

Red-Striped Rainbowfish are not fussy eaters and will eagerly accept most foods offered. Feed a proper diet by offering a high-quality flake or pellet as a staple and supplement several times a week with live and/or frozen foods. Brine shrimp, Daphnia, and bloodworms are all good choices. Feed a diet consisting of a variety of foods on a regular basis to promote the best health and coloration.

Breeding

Breeding these fish is considered fairly easy to achieve. Groups of adult fish consisting of 2 – 4 females for each male can be conditioned in a separate tank on live and frozen foods. To induce spawning, select the fattest and most colorful pair of conditioned fish and move them to the breeding tank. This tank should be maintained at a pH around 7.5 and a temperature between 80 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s your choice whether to remove the eggs to a separate hatching tank or leave them in the same tank as the parents. If the eggs are to remain with the parents a dense mat of java moss is recommended to provide the newborn fry safe refuge. As with most newborn fry, feed infusoria until large enough to accept baby brine shrimp – roughly 7 – 10 days.