TankBud

Allen's rainbowfish

Chilatherina alleni

Also known as Allen rainbowfish

FreshwaterFish

Allen's rainbowfish (Chilatherina alleni)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
6.8–8.0
Adult size
3 in
7.6 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Melanotaeniidae
Origin
Siriwo River drainage, Papua, Indonesia

Overview

Allen's rainbowfish is a peaceful, active schooling fish for the middle of a community tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Allen's rainbowfish swims in a single Papuan drainage. Its genus holds a dozen species, from rivers most keepers will never see.

Caring for the Allen's rainbowfish

Keep Allen's rainbowfish in a group of six or more, with a mix of sexes. A tank of 29 gal (110 L) or larger suits them. Plant it, leave open swimming length and give them a gentle current.

Like most Chilatherina, they want clean, moving, slightly hard water, and they reward it with constant activity. Keep it warm, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.8 to 8.0. They take flake, granules and small frozen foods eagerly.

Allen's rainbowfish are peaceful and safe with other calm community fish. Males display at dawn in fin-spread bursts, and they deepen into amber and gold with age. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Chilatherina alleni is a member of the rainbowfish family, Melanotaeniidae. It was described in 1997, and its describer named it for a colleague, Gerald Allen. Allen's surveys named most of New Guinea's rainbowfishes.

In the wild

Allen's rainbowfish comes from rainforest tributaries of the Siriwo River in Papua, Indonesia. It lives in warm, flowing water over gravel.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Allen's rainbowfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an Allen's rainbowfish need?

An Allen's rainbowfish needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Allen's rainbowfish need?

An Allen's rainbowfish is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 6.8–8.0.

What does an Allen's rainbowfish eat?

An Allen's rainbowfish takes flake, granules and small frozen foods eagerly.

How big does an Allen's rainbowfish get?

An adult Allen's rainbowfish reaches about 3 in (7.6 cm).

Does an Allen's rainbowfish need a group?

Yes. An Allen's rainbowfish is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male Allen's rainbowfish from a female?

Males deepen into amber and gold as they age. They also display at dawn in fin-spread bursts.

Related species