Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia praecox · Peaceful · Beginner care
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A compact rainbowfish that shimmers powder-blue with contrasting red or yellow fins. Active, peaceful and dazzling in a shoal under bright light and green plants.
Out of stock
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Species profile Melanotaenia praecox
Origin
Mamberamo River basin, West Papua, Indonesia
Family
Melanotaeniidae (rainbowfish family)
Adult size
Up to 6 cm (2.4 in)
Diet
Quality flake and micro-pellets plus small frozen/live foods (daphnia, brine, bloodworm) (Omnivore)
Temperament
Peaceful
Swimming level
Middle
Minimum group
6+ (shoaling)
Lifespan
3-5 years
Minimum tank
90 L (24 gal)
Water type
Freshwater
Size to scale
6 cm adult length, shown to scale against an iPhone 15 Pro (14.66 cm).
Natural range
Where it comes from — Southeast Asia
Mamberamo River basin, West Papua, Indonesia
Water
Singapore tap water vs its needs
Hardness: Soft to medium (5-15 dGH).
In the aquarium
How it lives in the tank
Swims in the middle of the tank
Keep in a group of 6+
Sensitivity Index — Hardy
Hardy and beginner-friendly; keep up routine water changes and it will thrive.
Our own read on how forgiving this species is of water changes — not a formal standard.
Keeping & care
What this fish needs
Family
About the Melanotaeniidae family rainbowfish family
Melanotaeniidae, the rainbowfishes, are small to medium freshwater fishes (most aquarium species 6–12 cm) with a laterally compressed body, two separate dorsal fins, and often iridescent, colour-shifting flanks that intensify as males mature. They are native to Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, inhabiting streams, lakes, and swamps. Peaceful and highly active schooling fish, they are hardy and undemanding, thriving in a well-planted tank with open swimming space, neutral to slightly alkaline water, and steady warmth.
Keep in a group of at least six (more brings out the best colour and calmest behaviour) in a spacious, well-planted tank with open swimming lanes, neutral to slightly hard water, and stable temperatures around 24–28°C.
Breeding
Egg-scatterer (plant-attaching egg-depositor)Rainbowfishes are egg-scatterers that deposit adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over a period of days rather than in a single burst; a warm, well-fed, planted tank with a good male-to-female ratio usually triggers spawning. Adults do not guard the eggs and will eat them, so eggs or mops are typically moved to a separate rearing container. Eggs hatch in roughly 7–14 days depending on species and temperature, and the tiny fry need infusoria or very fine first foods before graduating to newly hatched brine shrimp. Many popular species (Melanotaenia, Glossolepis) breed readily in captivity, which is why most stock is commercially bred.
Feeding
Recommended food
Compatibility
Best tankmates
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