Edit Iriatherina werneri

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Name

Scientific name

Iriatherina werneri

Described by

Authority Meinken, Year 1974

Family

Melanotaeniidae

Summary

The threadfin rainbowfish, Iriatherina werneri, is a small rainbowfish from southern New Guinea, Cape York in Queensland and the Northern T…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

40mm, standard length

Tank size

Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement Low: still or sluggish water

Water

Temperature and pH

Temperature 22–30°C, pH 5–8

Hardness

1–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries

Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea

Supporting text

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Described from 'Merauke, Irian Jaya, Indonesia' which corresponds to modern day Merauke Regency, Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It's d…

Habitat

Shows a preference for slow-moving streams, freshwater swamps, lagoons, and billabongs containing clear water and abundant macrophytes. It's most commonly-foun…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with base dimensions of 60 ∗ 30 cm24 ∗ 12 in should be the smallest considered.

Maintenance

Best kept in a densely-planted tank and an excellent choice for the carefully-aquascaped set-up. The addition of some floating plants and driftwood roots or br…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Feeds on floating or suspended phytoplankton, diatoms, and other zooplankton in nature, and in the aquarium must be offered items of a suitable size for its ti…

Behaviour and compatibility

Very peaceful but not suitable for the general community aquarium since it's easily outcompeted for food and the long fins of mature males may be nipped at by …

Very peaceful but not suitable for the general community aquarium since it's easily outcompeted for food and the long fins of mature males may be nipped at by certain common species. It's best maintained alone or alongside fishes of comparable size and disposition such as Pseudomugil spp., or if geography isn't an issue Microdevario, Danionella, Eirmotus, Trigonostigma, pygmy Corydoras, small loricariids such as Otocinclus spp., and freshwater shrimp of the genera Caridina and Neocaridina are also suitable.

It's a shoaling species by nature and really should be kept in a group of at least 6 specimens, ideally 10 or more. Maintaining it in such numbers will not only make the fish less nervous but result in a more effective, natural-looking display. Males will also display their best colours and some fascinating behaviour as they compete with one other for female attention.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the profileFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Sexual dimorphism

Adult males possess extended unpaired and pelvic fins, are larger and more colourful than females.

Reproduction

This species is an egg-scatterer exhibiting no parental care and will consume its own eggs and fry given the opportunity. Spawning is more likely in temperatur…

Notes

Although this species is widely-traded and produced on a commercial scale for the aquarium hobby, it's actually quite delicate with some rather specific care r…

References

4 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Tank size

Water

Temperature and pH

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries

Supporting text

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References