Neon Rainbowfish

1 Neon Rainbowfish Introduction

The Neon Rainbowfish has a red edge around its body; under light it looks like a blue ghost glowing red, very pretty, hence the name. A small, gentle fish, it can mix with other small fish.

English name: Melanotaenia trifasciata

Type: Tropical freshwater fish

Breeding: Oviparous (egg-laying)

Water: Slightly alkaline, hard

Care difficulty: Easy

Water temperature: 22-26°C

2 Physical Characteristics

At fish markets people call Australian rainbows ‘beauties,’ so the Neon Rainbowfish, glowing red under light like a ghost, got its name. Those who have seen it understand its beauty. What is special about its look?

Spindle-shaped. Dorsal fin in two parts, dorsal and anal symmetrical, low equal-width band-like rays. Body pale yellow-green with several dotted pink longitudinal lines. A red spot on the gill cover; dorsal and anal fins bright red; caudal fin pale red. The body has a red edge; under light it is like a blue ghost glowing red, very beautiful.

3 Aquarium Conditions

Also called the Thin-lipped Rainbowfish. For this small tropical fish, the environment matters for healthy growth. It likes harder water, hardness about 10-15 degrees.

Tolerates 22-26°C; below 22°C problems arise like poor appetite, lethargy, and saprolegniasis; decide on a heater as needed.

Best pH 6.5-7.5; pH greatly affects it. pH is logarithmic, so pH 5 is 10x pH 6 and 100x pH 7; a small 1-unit gap to humans may be fatal to the fish.

4 Feeding Guidelines

It looks prettier under light, so give some daily illumination; a 40-60 W fluorescent for 6-10 hours daily.

With bright red dorsal and anal fins and pale red caudal, under light it is a blue ghost glowing red. Feed scientifically: offer brine shrimp, daphnia, tubifex, and other live foods. Gentle and lively, it mixes with small fish.