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The Neon Rainbow comes from the small, lush jungle streams in Western New Guinea (formerly Irian Jaya), the Mamberamo region of West Papua. They feed on vegetation, insects, small worms and fish eggs.
Though they are small fish they still need a decent sized tank. This is because they do best in groups of 10 or more. It is advisable to keep these rainbow fish in a tank at least 24 inches long and ideally 60 or more litres.
The Neon Rainbow will eat most anything offered, but will almost never eat food off the bottom. Cleaning the bottom is needed more often unless you have good tank scavenging bottom feeders. These rainbows are fairly easy to breed as well.
Neon Rainbows are classic omnivores, quite equally adapted to eating both animal and plant matter in the wild. In captivity they should be fed a high quality flake or pelleted food to maintain good health. Buy foods frequently and in small amounts, as the nutritional value of these products quickly deteriorates. Another large chunk of their diet should be frozen foods like brine shrimp, bloodworms, and mosquito larvae. They also enjoy plant matter so you should have live plants for them to nibble on or use plant based food from time to time. Feed these fish several times a day and only what they can consume in under 5 minutes.
These rainbows will do best and are most effectively displayed in tanks which simulate their natural habitat. A sandy substrate, dense vegetation, and bog wood all echo the native rivers of the Neon Rainbow. As with most of the Rainbow species they are most at home in well planted aquariums. When you choose plants make sure to pick plant that can tolerate the hard, alkaline conditions preferred by this fish.
A rainbow tank can be quite spectacular with the proper technique. Although these adaptable fish would certainly be happy in most conditions, the colour is best displayed with a little planning. A dark substrate and backing on the tank contrasts with the colors and makes them more secure. Floating plants are a great addition to any tank, and the colours are seen well in the shadows. They also need stretches of open swimming areas. At least a third or half the tank should be open water, positioned in the middle to encourage the fish to swim there and give them a chance to show off their colors.
The Neon Rainbow is basically adaptable to life in the community aquarium. They will get along best with other peaceful fish of a similar size. Remember that if you put them in a tank with big hungry fish the Noen Rainbow won’t last long.
Noen Rainbows are schooling fish and the ratio of males to females is very important to keep a reasonable peace among them. Although you can always keep single sex schools, you will see significantly better colouration if both genders are in the tank.
- Species – Melanotaenia praecox
- Common Name – Neon Rainbow
- Origin – Mamberamo region of West Papua New Guinea
- Diet – Omnivorous
- PH Range – 6.5 – 8
- Temperature – Tropical and Coldwater 22°c – 26°c
- Breed Type – Egg Scatterer
- Current Size – approximately 3cm (Grows to approximately 6.5cm)
- Sex – Un-sexed
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Step 1: Prepare the necessary materials
Clean bucket or container large enough
Airline tubing
Air pump (optional but recommended)
Adjustable valve or knot (to regulate the flow of water) or get a abquatics drip kit
Clean, dechlorinated water (ideally matching the temperature and pH of your tank)
Step 2: Set up the drip acclimation system
Fill a clean bucket or container with the clean, dechlorinated water.
Attach one end of the airline tubing to an air pump (if using) and place the other end inside the bucket. Make sure it reaches the bottom of the container.
Step 3: Start the drip
Open the bag containing the aquatic animals and carefully pour the entire contents into the bucket, including the water from the transport bag.
Start a siphon by sucking on the free end of the airline tubing or use a siphon starter. This will initiate a slow drip of water into the bucket.
Step 4: Adjust the drip rate
Use an adjustable valve or tie a knot in the airline tubing to regulate the drip rate. Aim for approximately 2-4 drips per second.
The slow drip helps gradually mix the water in the bucket with the water from the transport bag, preventing any sudden changes in water parameters.
Step 5: Monitor the process
Keep an eye on the acclimation process and periodically test the water parameters in the bucket using a test kit. This helps ensure a smooth transition.
Depending on the sensitivity of the animals and the water parameters involved, the acclimation process may take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
Step 6: Adjust water volume if needed
If the water volume in the bucket becomes too high, you can remove some water and continue the drip acclimation process with fresh, dechlorinated water. Be cautious not to remove too much water, as it can lead to sudden changes in water parameters.
Step 7: Transfer the animals to the tank
Once the acclimation process is complete, gently net the aquatic animals from the bucket and transfer them to the tank. Avoid adding the water from the acclimation container to the tank to prevent any potential contamination.
Step 8: Dispose of the acclimation water
After transferring the animals, discard the acclimation water from the bucket. Do not pour it directly into any drains or natural bodies of water.
By following these steps, you can safely and gradually acclimate your shrimp, snails, and fish to their new tank environment after transport. Remember, it's important to monitor the process closely and make adjustments as necessary to ensure a smooth transition for your aquatic pets.