Barred rainbowfish

Chilatherina fasciata

Also known as Checkered rainbowfish, Fasciata rainbowfish

FreshwaterFish

Barred rainbowfish (Chilatherina fasciata) — Dirk Godlinski · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–86°F (24–30°C)
pH: 7.0–8.0
Adult size: 4.7 in (12 cm)
Minimum tank: 53 gal (200 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Native to northern New Guinea in the Markham, Ramu, Sepik and Mamberamo river systems, where it lives in clear rainforest streams and lakes from the lowlands up to around 500 m elevation.
Family: Melanotaeniidae

Overview

Keep a group of at least six, and ideally more, in a tank of 200 litres or larger, with the females included so males stay colorful. They do best at 24 to 30 C and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0 in clean, well filtered water. This is a peaceful, active shoaler that mixes well with other rainbowfish, larger rasboras and peaceful barbs. Feed a varied diet of quality flake, small pellets and frozen foods such as daphnia and brine shrimp.

In the wild

Wild barred rainbowfish shoal in clear, moderately flowing streams and lakes cutting through New Guinea rainforest, often over gravel and among submerged roots. They are active, open-water swimmers that need length to cruise. A tank at least 120 cm long with a sandy or fine gravel base, some driftwood, hardy background plants and plenty of clear swimming space suits them well. Good filtration and steady water movement keep them settled.

Good to know

Chilatherina fasciata belongs to the rainbowfish family Melanotaeniidae, the same group as the Melanotaenia species. Like most rainbowfish, males are deeper bodied and more intensely colored than females, and color peaks during dawn sparring displays. Populations from different river systems vary in the shade of their vertical barring.

Did you know

Adult males intensify their colors and flick their fins each morning as they compete for females, so the fish look their best in the first hour after the lights come on.