McCulloch's Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia maccullochi

FishFreshwater

Melanotaenia maccullochi has a silvery body with blue and green reflections, and a dark lateral stripe. Males have yellow to orange dorsal and anal fins. It reaches 8 cm. It is a gregarious and active fish, ideal for community aquariums. It is more tolerant than other Melanotaenia species. In the wild, it lives in clear to slightly turbid waters. It breeds easily in captivity.

Recommended parameters

ParameterRecommended range
Temperature24–28
pH6.5–7.5
GH5–15
KH3–10
NO₃≤ 20
PO₄≤ 1

Care

Difficulty1/5
Dietomnivore
Min. tank150 L
Min. group6
Adult size8 cm
Lifespan4 ans
Temperamentpeaceful

Care notes

Aquarium of at least 150 liters for a group. Temperature 24-28°C, pH 6.5-7.5, GH 5-15. Accepts a wide range of parameters. Diet: flakes, pellets, brine shrimp, daphnia. Peaceful species, compatible with most similarly sized fish. Avoid aggressive species. A planted tank with open swimming areas is perfect. Breeding is simple: eggs are laid on fine plants or a mop. Fry are easy to raise with infusoria then brine shrimp nauplii.