Freshwater
Slender rainbowfish
Melanotaenia gracilis
Melanotaeniidae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 7.5 cm
- Body shape
- Streamlined
Care
- Group
- At least 6 together
- Smallest aquarium
- 62 liters
- Diet
- Missing
Know what is missing? Suggest it in the app.
Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
More about the species
Description
Inhabits large water courses and isolated rocky pools generally bordered with paperbark trees (Melaleuca) which have clear waters and minimal flow during the dry season. Large numbers congregate in shady pools around log snags and submerged branches. Feeds on insects and their larvae, small crustaceans and algae. Sympatric with M. splendida australis. Prefers the following aquarium conditions: pH=7, H=10, 24°C water temperature; is an egg layer and a peaceful community fish.
Other names
In other languages
- Slank regnbuefisk
- Sirosateenkaarikala
Articles
All articles
How many fish can I keep?4 min read
Why "one cm of fish per liter" falls short, and what adult size, schools, territory and swimming zones mean for how many fish a tank can hold.
How to set up an aquarium from Australia and New Guinea4 min read
The home of rainbowfish: water, substrate, plants and light for rainbowfish, blue-eyes and peacock gudgeons, with a long aquarium and open water in the middle.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.