Turquoise Rainbowfish

Remarks: Melanotaenia lacustris, the Turquoise Rainbow, has long been a staple in the hobby. Both males and females display quite a bit of color, but males show a bright gold/orange stripe from the nose to the first dorsal fin when excited.   These fish are omnivorous and should be fed a quality flake food with supplemental proteins such as baby brine shrimp. They require clean water but tolerate a wide variety of water parameters. By providing frequent water changes, you will be rewarded with nearly continuous spawning attempts. Melanotaenia species deposit eggs in weedy areas (often mimicked by a yarn mop) and the eggs hatch 7-10 days later. Eggs can be harvested for hatching in separate tanks to avoid predation. Most Rainbows show their best colors at sunrise, when the males display their bright fins for potential mates. Having more females than males will allow for proper color displays and avoid any unwanted aggression towards lone females.