Melanotaenia japenensis (Japen Island Rainbowfish)

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A fast-moving, active fish with a rhomboid body form, an indistinct bluish band along the flanks, and a blue tint to the top half of the body. The lower half of the body bears prominent orange stripes. The fins are orange. Males are more strongly coloured.

Fish information (behaviour and breeding):

Rainbowfish invariably make good companions for similar size, non-aggressive tankmates. They are hardy and long-lived, and tend to do well in hard, alkaline water making them a good choice for fishkeepers without access to the soft water preferred by barbs and tetras.

Breeding rainbowfish is generally not difficult. Eggs are scattered over open, sandy substrates and take about a week to hatch. Conditioning the parents on a good diet of live and frozen foods is important. The fry, once free swimming, will take small pond foods and brine shrimp nauplii.

Family Group:	Rainbow fish
Distribution	Japen Island, New Guinea
Temperature	24-28 C
Size	Up to 11 cm
Water Parameters	Adaptable, but avoid acid water
Water PH	7.2-7.8

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Useful sources of information:

If you would like to learn more about what are some of the most colourful fish in the hobby the best refernce guide is the Aqualog All Rainbows and Related Families which is a fantastic guide to these fish covering 313 species with more than 700 colour photographs. To buy a copy click here

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