Bred by TFR
Melanotaenia praecox
Dwarf Neon Rainbow Fish
Native Location: New Guinea, Indonesia
Climate: Tropical
Maximum Size: 3.2″ (8cm) in the home aqaurium
Temperament: Friendly and suitable for community aquarium
Diet: Omnivorous, readily accept most foods
Breeding: Fairly easy
Temperature Range: 73-82°F (23-28°C)
Preferred pH Range: 6.8-7.5
Minimum Aquarium Size: 60cm x 30cm x 30cm / 50 litres +
Potential Tankmates: Can be kept in groups of the same species. Small peaceful fish such as Corydoras, small tetras and most Apistogramma
Care Level: Easy
The Dwarf Rainbow Fish are simply gorgeous. When they are swimming in a group and the light catches them, you can really see why they are called ‘Neon’ Dwarf Rainbows. They are a very active fish that swim almost non-stop in the upper central area of the aquarium. A great way to inject colour and energy into your fish tank for sure.
Found primarily in the faster flowing river tributaries amongst the aquatic vegetation and fallen branches. To provide the perfect aquarium setting, it is strongly advised to add lots of plants. A variety of tall plants such as Amazon Swords along with Vallisneria would provide a nice contrast between the bright blue rainbow fish and the light green leaves. Additionally bog wood, branches and other natural decorative materials can be added to create a nice aquascaped aquarium.
When it comes to feeding your Dwarf rainbow Fish, its very simple. They eat pretty much everything. We strongly advise a mixed diet of live, dry and frozen food. Offering live foods like blood worm, daphnia plus quality dried food with krill and other natural colour enhancing ingredients to get the brightest, most active fish to enjoy.
If you wish to breed these fish, you should first set up a separate aquarium. Like other Rainbow fish, They are egg scatterers and as such, the breeding tank should have aquatic plants with long leaves. To insure you have a breeding pair, first observe the whole group of fish in their main aquarium. Begin to raise the temperate slowly to the higher side of the range and increase the foods with more live foods if possible. To select the male, look for the brightest fish, to select the female, pick the one with the roundest stomach.
Once in their own breeding aquarium, they will spawn for several weeks. During this time, regularly check the leaves of the plants for eggs, removing them as you find them and placing them into another aquarium to allow them to hatch. The fry will need a suitable live food to begin with which can often be a problem. The ideal food is infusoria then brine shrimp and so on.
All in all, the Dwarf rainbow Fish are a great shoaling fish for any peaceful community aquarium. If you have not tried them before, we highly recommend giving them a go.
All our fish are quarantined on arrival for two weeks. During this time, they are treated for any possible diseases and given a complete health check to make sure they are health, happy and eating well before being placed in our display aquariums, ready for sale.
Dead on Arrival (DOA) Policy: In the unfortunate event that your fish arrives dead, please follow these steps: Within 12 hours of the delivery, take clear, unopened bag pictures showing the deceased fish. Send these photographs and your order number to our customer service email atgetfish@thefishroom.co.nz or to our Facebook page and we will then offer a refund or store credit for the cost of the fish.
Two-Week Guarantee Policy: We stand behind the health and quality of our fish, which is why we offer a two-week guarantee starting from the day of delivery. If your fish dies within this time frame, adhere to the following procedure: Take clear photos of the deceased fish. Using a reliable test kit, document via a dated photo, water parameters (pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite levels). Please email us the photographs, water parameters, and order number togetfish@thefishroom.co.nz or our Facebook page. After reviewing your claim, if approved, we will issue a store credit for the cost of the fish. Our two-week guaranteedoes not cover fish deaths due to unsuitable water conditions, incompatible tank mates or “disasters” i.e. a heater overheating. We recommend thoroughly researching each fish species' needs before introducing them to your aquarium to prevent such situations.
Freight Charges: Please note that shipping or freight charges are non-refundable under all circumstances. We hope this guide makes our refund and guarantee process more understandable. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please get in touch with us at getfish@thefishroom.co.nz. We are always happy to assist. Thank you for choosing The Fish Room. Happy fish keeping!
