Lake Tebera Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi

Family : Melanotaeniidae

FishFreshwaterRainbowfish

Vulnerable species endemic to Lake Tebera, appreciated for its golden and blue colors. Threatened by habitat degradation.

Lake Tebera Rainbowfish — photo 1 sur 2
User:Haplochromis · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.01 / 2
Popularity
Community fish
classic in freshwater aquarium
Availability
Common in shops
Shop availability
IUCN Status
VU
Vulnerable

Description

Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi is distinguished by a golden-yellow coloration on the back and flanks, with a horizontal metallic blue stripe. The fins are often tinted red or orange. It reaches about 10 cm. It is a gregarious and peaceful fish, but requires high water quality. In aquariums, it is less common than other Melanotaenia species. Its natural habitat is limited to Lake Tebera, which is under environmental pressure.

Habitat

Region :

Lake Tebera and its tributaries, Papua New Guinea

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature2428 °C
pH78
GH815 °dGH
KH512 °dKH
NO₃
≤ 20 mg/L
PO₄
≤ 1 mg/L

Care

Difficulty
3/5
Diet
Omnivore
Min. tank
200 L
Min. group
6
Adult size
10 cm
Lifespan
5 years
Temperament
Peaceful
Propagation
egg scatterer

Care notes

Aquarium of at least 200 liters with efficient filtration and moderate flow. Temperature 24-28°C, pH 7.0-8.0, GH 8-15. Hard, alkaline water is recommended. Varied diet: flakes, pellets, brine shrimp, bloodworms. Peaceful species, compatible with similarly sized fish. Avoid aggressive species. A planted tank with open areas is ideal. Breeding is similar to other rainbowfish: spawning on fine plants. Due to its vulnerable status, prefer captive-bred specimens.

Similar species

Espèces proches, même habitat ou même maintenance

References