Tips on Feeding and Keeping Rainbowfish
Rainbowfish are a family of freshwater fish. They originate from Australia and New Guinea. Despite their colourful appearance, they are relatively unknown among aquarists compared to other species of fish such as guppies.
Rainbowfish Profile
- Scientific name: Melanotaeniidae
- Origin: New Guinea and Australia
- Size: 4 - 12 cm (1.5 – 4.7 inches)
- Life span: up to 10 years
- Aquarium minimum size: around 300 litres
- Recommended water temperature: 22 - 28 °C (71.6 – 82.4 °F)
- Diet: omnivorous
What do Rainbowfish Look Like?
Rainbowfish have a rather high-backed body structure that is slightly flattened on the sides. Their size varies depending on the species. Some rainbowfish reach a length of around 12 centimetres, while others are only four centimetres long. Females are usually a good deal smaller than their male counterparts.
There are around 100 different species of rainbowfish, some of which differ significantly, not least in terms of their colour. The Boeseman's rainbowfish from New Guinea, for example, has metallic blue scales. The neon rainbowfish, on the other hand, has a turquoise to neon blue colour and in other species the base colour is yellow, red or green.
Regardless of this, male rainbowfish are usually stronger in colour than females. Furthermore, the colour only develops over time. It is therefore perfectly normal that young animals available for sale in specialist shops are still quite pale.
What is the Life Expectancy of Rainbowfish?
If kept in good conditions, rainbowfish in aquariums can live for several years. Some types such as the Boeseman's rainbowfish can even live for around 10 years.
Where Do Rainbowfish Originate From?
In the wild, rainbowfish live in both Australia and New Guinea, where they are native to lakes and rivers. The habitat of the individual species is often limited to a very small area. The increasing pollution and destruction of the environment has lead to many rainbowfish now being threatened with extinction.
Some species of rainbowfish also end up as food fish on the dinner plate of the local population. However, their importance in this regard is quite minor. Instead, more and more aquarium owners are drawn to the attractive aquatic inhabitants and enjoy the great splendour of the rainbowfish.
Keeping Rainbowfish
Due to their attractive appearance, rainbowfish are slowly but surely playing an increasingly important role in ornamental fish keeping. Keeping these colourful fish works generally well as long as a few necessities are considered. Sufficient space for swimming and the cleanest possible water are particularly important.
The tank size required depends on the species. An aquarium with a capacity of 300 litres may well be necessary for keeping larger rainbowfish. Ideally, the water should be changed weekly, during which about half of the aquarium water is replaced.
The pH level in the aquarium for rainbowfish should be between 7 and 8.5 and the water temperature between 22 and 28 ° C. In addition, rather bright lighting is advisable. On one hand, this contributes to the delicate aquatic plants growing well in the tank and, on the other hand, ensures that the colours of the rainbowfish are literally put in the best possible light.
Socialising Rainbowfish
Rainbowfish are schooling fish. Accordingly, they must be kept in groups of around five to ten animals in the aquarium. Rainbowfish are generally docile creatures, so keeping them together with other peaceful fish species is usually not a problem.
Breeding Rainbowfish
Rainbowfish are so-called continuos spawners. The females lay a few eggs every day, which stick to plants in the tank and are then fertilized by the male fish.
It takes about seven to ten days for the larvae to hatch. The freshly hatched fish larvae can be fed with infusoria. In well-run aquariums that do not keep too many fish they will also find microorganisms that they can feed on.
The juveniles are mostly eaten by the parent fish, which controls the population in a natural way. However, a few of the small fish usually survive in the shelter of the aquatic plants. For the targeted breeding of rainbowfish, a separate breeding tank can be used if necessary.
Rainbowfish Diseases
If the conditions in the aquarium do not meet their needs, the likelihood of disease in rainbowfish increases significantly. Above all, water pollution as well as stress and lack of oxygen are among the risk factors in this context.
Rainbowfish are prone to ulcers, which in most cases sooner or later lead to the death of the animals. Apart from that, rainbowfish can also be infested by parasites and then get sick with illnesses such as white spot disease.
Rainbowfish Diet
In the wild, rainbowfish feed primarily on algae and the microorganisms in them, as well as food that falls into the water. When kept in the aquarium, they can be offered live food as well as frozen or dry food.
As long as the food is of good quality, rainbowfish are usually not too demanding in terms of their food. However, when choosing fish food, it must be borne in mind that the animals have a very small mouth and that their food must therefore not be too coarse.
Fish Food for Rainbowfish from Aquaris
The Aquaris range offers you a selection of high-quality fish food, such as Aquaris Flakes, with which the appropriate feeding of your aquarium fish is easy and convenient.
Selected raw materials and carefully developed recipes guarantee excellent digestibility and reliably ensure an optimal supply of all essential nutrients.
Aquaris fish food is also characterised by its easy digestibility. This can prevent the unnecessarily pollution of the water from excretions of your rainbowfish.
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