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Edit Melanotaenia praecox

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Name

Scientific name

Melanotaenia praecox

Described by

Not recorded

Family

Melanotaeniidae

Summary

The neon dwarf rainbowfish, Melanotaenia praecox, is a small rainbowfish endemic to the Mamberamo river system in New Guinea, Indonesia. It…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

80mm, standard length

Tank size

Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Minimum height 30 cm

Water

Temperature and pH

Temperature 23–28°C, pH 6.8–7.5

Hardness

5–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Social needs

A shoal or group

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries

Not recorded

Supporting text

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Endemic to the Mamberamo river system, New Guinea, Indonesia. This is one of the largest river systems on the island, being over 2000 km long.

Habitat

Tends to inhabit swiftly flowing tributaries off the main river, as well as surrounding swamps and marshes. The fish congregate around areas of aquatic vegetat…

Aquarium size

An active species, so despite its small size it requires an aquarium measuring at least 60 ∗ 30 ∗ 30 cm24 ∗ 12 ∗ 12 in - ~54 litres~14 US gal.

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Maintenance

This little rainbowfish is ideally suited to a heavily planted setup and will show its best colours in such surroundings. It doesn't appreciate bright conditio…

Water conditions

Temperature: 23 – 28 °C73 – 82 °F pH: 6.8-7.5 Hardness: 5-15°H

Diet

Like most of its congeners, it's an unfussy, omnivorous species and will accept most dried, frozen and live foods. Regular feedings of the latter will help to …

Behaviour and compatibility

Very peaceful and suitable for many community aquaria given its relatively small size. Good tankmates include other similarly-sized rainbowfish, characins, dan…

Sexual dimorphism

Mature males are larger and exhibit brighter colouration than females. They also develop a much deeper body than females as they grow.

Reproduction

As with other members of the genus, this is not a difficult species to breed, being an egg scatterer. The fry can prove somewhat tricky to raise in the early s…

Notes

As with other members of the genus, this is not a difficult species to breed, being an egg scatterer. The fry can prove somewhat tricky to raise in the early s…

References

References

No references