[Ebook] 500 freshwater aquarium fish – Rainbows & Blue-eyes – Northern Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia affinis)

This is a peaceful, active shoaling rainbowfish that is well suited to life in a community aquarium. Male Northern Rainbowfish are grayish silver in color and have a wide blue horizontal bar running from the eye to the tail. Their fins are blue and yellow. Females exhibit similar coloring, but they are duller overall.

Other common name

• North New Guinea Rainbowfish

Synonyms

• Rhombatractus affinis, Rhombosoma sepikensis

Family

• Melanotaeniidae

Distribution

• Northern New Guinea.

Size

• 5 1/2in (14cm).

Behavior

• Active swimmer; nonaggressive, suitable for community aquarium.

Diet

• Prefers live foods, but many commercial diets also accepted.

Aquarium

• Spacious, well planted, with large open central area, dense background vegetation, and sandy bottom. Neutral to slightly alkaline medium-hard water recommended. Temperature range: 77-82 F (25-28C).

Breeding

• Not difficult; eggs are laid —over a period of a few days—among fine- leaved plants or plant roots. Hatching takes about 12 days.