TankBud

Bleher's rainbowfish

Chilatherina bleheri

Also known as Bleheri Rainbow

FreshwaterFish

Bleher's rainbowfish (Chilatherina bleheri)
Elizabeth Barrett / animal.photos · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°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
Egg depositor · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Melanotaeniidae
Origin
Lake Holmes (Danau Bira), lower Mamberamo River system, Irian Jaya (Indonesian New Guinea)

Overview

Bleher's rainbowfish is a large, very active schooler for a long community tank. It is easy to keep, given enough room to swim.

Did you know

Male Bleher's rainbowfish flash their best color first thing in the morning. They flare at each other to settle who looks best.

Caring for the Bleher's rainbowfish

Bleher's rainbowfish are big and constantly on the move, so a tank's length matters more than its volume. Keep a group of six or more in at least 53 gal (200 L). A tank around four feet long is better still. Leave open swimming lanes down the middle and push the planting to the back and sides.

Keep the water clean, well oxygenated and moderately hard, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C). Aim for a pH of 7.0 to 8.0 and a hardness around 8 to 15 dH. Feed quality flakes and pellets, along with frozen brine shrimp and daphnia to bring out their color.

They are peaceful and community safe, holding to the middle of the water column. Their size and energy can overwhelm very small or timid tank mates, so pick robust, similarly sized fish. Running more males deepens the color and brings out natural sparring, which looks dramatic but does no real harm.

Bleher's rainbowfish lay their eggs on fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over a stretch of days, with no parental care. The eggs and fry are easy to raise once you have a dedicated setup, so breeding is moderate rather than simple.

Good to know

Bleher's rainbowfish belongs to the rainbowfish family Melanotaeniidae and is also known as the Bleheri rainbow. It is endemic to a single lake system, so its wild stock comes from one small place. That makes the aquarium population worth keeping clean and going.

In the wild

Bleher's rainbowfish come from Lake Holmes, also called Danau Bira, in the lower Mamberamo River system of Irian Jaya. The lake lies in Indonesian New Guinea, and its water sits on the neutral to slightly alkaline side.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Bleher'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 a Bleher's rainbowfish need?

A Bleher's rainbowfish needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Bleher's rainbowfish need?

A Bleher's rainbowfish is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a Bleher's rainbowfish eat?

A Bleher's rainbowfish eats quality flakes and pellets. Frozen brine shrimp and daphnia help bring out its color.

How big does a Bleher's rainbowfish get?

An adult Bleher's rainbowfish reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).

Does a Bleher's rainbowfish need a group?

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

How does a Bleher's rainbowfish breed?

Bleher's rainbowfish lay eggs on fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over a stretch of days and give no parental care. The eggs and fry are easy to raise in a dedicated setup.

Related species