The red rainbowfish or salmon-red rainbowfish (Glossolepis incisus) is a species of rainbowfish belonging to the family Melanotaeniidae.
The males are bright red and with age grow a high back. The females are olive brown in colour. Their colours change depending on their mood, but subordinate males do not display bright colours. They grow up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in size, but often attain a smaller size of around 12 cm (4.7 in).
The males are bright red and with age grow a high back. The females are olive brown in colour. Their colours change depending on their mood, but subordinate males do not display bright colours. They grow up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in size, but often attain a smaller size of around 12 cm (4.7 in).
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| Salmon-red rainbowfish |
Lake Wanam rainbowfish
The Lake Wanam rainbowfish (Glossolepis wanamensis) is a critically endangered species of fish in the Melanotaeniidae family. It is endemic to Lake Wanam near Lae in Papua New Guinea. It has virtually disappeared from the small lake (2–3 km in diameter) due to competition from introduced, non-native tilapias, but captive populations exist.
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| Lake Wanam rainbowfish |
Threadfin rainbowfish
The threadfin rainbowfish or featherfin rainbowfish (Iriatherina werneri) is a rainbowfish, the only species in the genus Iriatherina. It is characterized by long beautiful fins, and is among the most attractive of the rainbowfishes.
It is native to freshwater swamps and demersal or thickly vegetated areas of flowing waters, in tropical Australia, the West Papuan region of Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
It grows up to 5 cm (2.0 in) in length, but this does not include the Threadfin's long tail. Sexing is easy by examining fins: males have larger, gaudier finnage than females. Males also have more intense colours. When reproduction takes place eggs are scattered among fine leaved plants, and hatch after 8–12 days.
It is native to freshwater swamps and demersal or thickly vegetated areas of flowing waters, in tropical Australia, the West Papuan region of Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
It grows up to 5 cm (2.0 in) in length, but this does not include the Threadfin's long tail. Sexing is easy by examining fins: males have larger, gaudier finnage than females. Males also have more intense colours. When reproduction takes place eggs are scattered among fine leaved plants, and hatch after 8–12 days.
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| Threadfin rainbowfish |
Boeseman's rainbowfish
Boeseman's rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) is a species of fish in the Melanotaeniidae family. It is also known as the Boesemani rainbowfish. It is endemic to the Ayamaru Lakes and their tributaries in a mountainous region of the Bird's Head Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia. It was named in honour of Marinus Boeseman, the collector of the type specimens.
It is also available in the aquarium hobby, where it is prized for its excellent colors and peaceful demeanor. The colour pattern is completely different from most other forms of rainbowfish, as it has a half orange-red rear and a bluish-grey or purple front which in some specimens is almost defined perfectly. Melanotaenia boesemani will often grow to lengths that exceed 10 cm if given the right food and water conditions. They are kept best in groups due to their community and friendly nature and can be easily kept with many different species of fish, including some tetras. They are a relatively hardy fish that prefer weakly alkaline pH conditions. Good tank mates include other rainbowfish, barbs, and loaches. However, smaller freshwater shrimps in the Caridina and Neocaridina genus may be viewed as prey.
It is also available in the aquarium hobby, where it is prized for its excellent colors and peaceful demeanor. The colour pattern is completely different from most other forms of rainbowfish, as it has a half orange-red rear and a bluish-grey or purple front which in some specimens is almost defined perfectly. Melanotaenia boesemani will often grow to lengths that exceed 10 cm if given the right food and water conditions. They are kept best in groups due to their community and friendly nature and can be easily kept with many different species of fish, including some tetras. They are a relatively hardy fish that prefer weakly alkaline pH conditions. Good tank mates include other rainbowfish, barbs, and loaches. However, smaller freshwater shrimps in the Caridina and Neocaridina genus may be viewed as prey.
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| Boeseman's rainbowfish |
Duboulayi's rainbowfish
The crimson-spotted rainbowfish (Melanotaenia duboulayi), known less commonly as the Duboulay's rainbowfish, is a species of freshwater rainbowfish endemic to eastern Australia. M. duboulayi has also been kept in aquariums since the early 20th century, and is the original Australian rainbowfish.
Males reach maximum lengths of 12 cm (4.7 in), but are usually less than 10 cm (3.9 in), while the females are usually smaller. They have a slender and compressed body shape. Crimson-spotted rainbowfish have two dorsal fins very close together, with the first much smaller than the second. Their fin colours vary from clear to yellowish to red, with red flecks and dark margins which become intensely black in males during spawning activities. Larger males are distinguished from females by their brighter colours and can be identified from the elongation of posterior rays in the second dorsal and anal fins. Females have rounded dorsal and anal fins, which are smaller and lack the dark edges. A prominent spot of crimson red is seen on the operculum. Generally, the body is silvery-blue or green ranging through deep bluish or yellow tones. The scale rows are marked with narrow yellow lines and overlaid with orange to brilliant red. They exhibit considerable colour variations over a wide geographical range.
Males reach maximum lengths of 12 cm (4.7 in), but are usually less than 10 cm (3.9 in), while the females are usually smaller. They have a slender and compressed body shape. Crimson-spotted rainbowfish have two dorsal fins very close together, with the first much smaller than the second. Their fin colours vary from clear to yellowish to red, with red flecks and dark margins which become intensely black in males during spawning activities. Larger males are distinguished from females by their brighter colours and can be identified from the elongation of posterior rays in the second dorsal and anal fins. Females have rounded dorsal and anal fins, which are smaller and lack the dark edges. A prominent spot of crimson red is seen on the operculum. Generally, the body is silvery-blue or green ranging through deep bluish or yellow tones. The scale rows are marked with narrow yellow lines and overlaid with orange to brilliant red. They exhibit considerable colour variations over a wide geographical range.
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| Duboulayi's rainbowfish |
Australian rainbowfish
The Australian rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis), known less commonly as the Murray River rainbowfish or the crimson-spotted rainbowfish, is a species of freshwater rainbowfish endemic to Australia. They are very colourful, hence their name; males of this species are more colourful than females. Australian rainbowfish are schooling fish and will congregate near logs or riverbanks.
Australian rainbowfish reach maximum lengths of 11 cm (4.3 in), but the males are usually no larger than 8.5 cm (3.3 in), while the females usually only grow to 7 cm (2.8 in). The body is elongated, with a small head and large eyes. Australian rainbowfish have two dorsal fins and a pointed anal fin. The caudal (tail) fin is forked shallowly. The fins (excluding the caudal fin) are yellow with dark margins and orange or red markings.
Australian rainbowfish are colourful fish, hence their name. Their sides are silvery-brown, and have a green or silver sheen. A blue stripe extends from the snout to the caudal fin. The other fins are yellow and marked with orange or red. In males, several orange stripes run laterally across the posterior half of the body. Males have red spots on the dorsal, anal and caudal fins, with a blackish margin when breeding. Females are less intensely coloured, lacking some of the brilliance and red stripes along the caudal peduncle.
Australian rainbowfish reach maximum lengths of 11 cm (4.3 in), but the males are usually no larger than 8.5 cm (3.3 in), while the females usually only grow to 7 cm (2.8 in). The body is elongated, with a small head and large eyes. Australian rainbowfish have two dorsal fins and a pointed anal fin. The caudal (tail) fin is forked shallowly. The fins (excluding the caudal fin) are yellow with dark margins and orange or red markings.
Australian rainbowfish are colourful fish, hence their name. Their sides are silvery-brown, and have a green or silver sheen. A blue stripe extends from the snout to the caudal fin. The other fins are yellow and marked with orange or red. In males, several orange stripes run laterally across the posterior half of the body. Males have red spots on the dorsal, anal and caudal fins, with a blackish margin when breeding. Females are less intensely coloured, lacking some of the brilliance and red stripes along the caudal peduncle.
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| Australian rainbowfish |
Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish
The Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish (Melanotaenia parva) is a species of freshwater fish in the Melanotaeniidae family. It is endemic to West Papua in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is only the small Lake Kurumoi in the Bird's Head Peninsula. It is threatened by habitat loss.
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| Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish |
Madagascar rainbowfish
The zona (Bedotia madagascariensis) is a species of fish in the Bedotiidae family. It is endemic to Madagascar, where found in rivers and lakes between the Ivoloina River and the Manambolo Creek. It is commonly seen in the aquarium trade, where it often has been confused with the related B. geayi. It is threatened by habitat loss.
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| Madagascar rainbowfish |
Neon rainbowfish
The dwarf rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox) is a species of fish in the Melanotaeniidae family, also commonly known as the neon rainbow. It is endemic to West Papua in Indonesia.
The dwarf rainbowfish commonly occupies swift-moving tributaries that are offset to a main river, marshes, and swamps within the water vegetation, logs, and roots. The average length of this species is around 3.2 in or 8.0 cm, but when kept in an aquarium, this species is known to not grow as big as it would in the wild. M. praecox is considered to be an omnivorous species. Males tend to be brighter in color and have deeper bodies than the females. This species' is considered to be an egg-scatterer, so it is easy to breed. Their bodies are bright blue and iridescent, and their fins are colorful. This species is active and is known to jump out of water. They can be found in groups of five or more typically. They are native to a tropical climate. This species is harmless to humans, and is used commercially for aquariums and commerce. They are known to be found in freshwater environments within a benthopelagic range.
The dwarf rainbowfish commonly occupies swift-moving tributaries that are offset to a main river, marshes, and swamps within the water vegetation, logs, and roots. The average length of this species is around 3.2 in or 8.0 cm, but when kept in an aquarium, this species is known to not grow as big as it would in the wild. M. praecox is considered to be an omnivorous species. Males tend to be brighter in color and have deeper bodies than the females. This species' is considered to be an egg-scatterer, so it is easy to breed. Their bodies are bright blue and iridescent, and their fins are colorful. This species is active and is known to jump out of water. They can be found in groups of five or more typically. They are native to a tropical climate. This species is harmless to humans, and is used commercially for aquariums and commerce. They are known to be found in freshwater environments within a benthopelagic range.
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| Neon rainbowfish |
Eastern rainbowfish
Melanotaenia splendida splendida also known as the Eastern rainbowfish is a subspecies of fish in the Melanotaeniidae family endemic to Australia.
The Eastern rainbowfish is widespread on the mainland, and is be found in river systems east of the Great Dividing Range of Queensland Australia from the Boyne River south of Gladstone to Cape York Peninsula. It is usually found in large schools inhabiting small freshwater streams, but is also found in lakes and reservoirs. It is kept as a tropical aquarium fish.
A small fish commonly found up to 8 cm but known to reach up to 14 cm.
Males are highly variable in colour from pale bluish-green or greenish-brown overall to yellowish and paler below, with a yellow or orange spot on the gill cover. Females and juveniles are silvery with translucent or faintly coloured fins.
The Eastern rainbowfish is an omnivore and feeds on algae, insects, microcrustaceans and other small invertebrates.
The Eastern rainbowfish is widespread on the mainland, and is be found in river systems east of the Great Dividing Range of Queensland Australia from the Boyne River south of Gladstone to Cape York Peninsula. It is usually found in large schools inhabiting small freshwater streams, but is also found in lakes and reservoirs. It is kept as a tropical aquarium fish.
A small fish commonly found up to 8 cm but known to reach up to 14 cm.
Males are highly variable in colour from pale bluish-green or greenish-brown overall to yellowish and paler below, with a yellow or orange spot on the gill cover. Females and juveniles are silvery with translucent or faintly coloured fins.
The Eastern rainbowfish is an omnivore and feeds on algae, insects, microcrustaceans and other small invertebrates.
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| Eastern rainbowfish |