Black-banded rainbowfish

Melanotaenia nigrans

Also known as Blackbanded rainbowfish, Black-lined rainbowfish

FreshwaterFish

Black-banded rainbowfish (Melanotaenia nigrans) — (c) Tom Ferguson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 3.9 in (10 cm)
Minimum tank: 32 gal (120 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Widespread across northern Australia from the eastern Kimberley to the tip of Cape York, in slow backwaters, billabongs, lily lagoons, rainforest streams and vegetated swamps.
Family: Melanotaeniidae

Overview

Keep a group of at least six in a tank of 120 litres or more at 22 to 28 C with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. A mixed sex group keeps the males displaying and colorful. It is peaceful and undemanding, making a good companion for other rainbowfish, larger rasboras and peaceful catfish. Feed varied flake, small pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp.

In the wild

This hardy rainbowfish lives in slow, often heavily planted northern Australian waters, from clear streams to still billabongs and lily covered lagoons. It carries a dark horizontal band along the body with a red edged tail. Give it a planted tank at least 90 to 120 cm long with open swimming space, driftwood and gentle flow. It tolerates a wide range of conditions but shows best color in clean, slightly soft water.

Good to know

Melanotaenia nigrans was described in 1843, making it one of the earliest known members of the rainbowfish family Melanotaeniidae. Males develop deeper bodies and stronger red and yellow finnage than females. Field surveys record it in warm, slightly acidic water averaging around pH 6.9.

Did you know

Despite the plain name, breeding males flush with red, yellow and blue and flick their fins in dawn displays, and the species is tough enough to handle seasonal swings in temperature and water chemistry.