Dority's rainbowfish

Glossolepis dorityi

Also known as Grime River rainbowfish, Zig zag rainbow

FreshwaterFish

Dority's rainbowfish (Glossolepis dorityi) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 77–86°F (25–30°C)
pH: 7.0–8.2
Adult size: 5.1 in (13 cm)
Minimum tank: 53 gal (200 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Grime River drainage, Papua, Indonesia
Family: Melanotaeniidae

Overview

Keep this deep-bodied rainbowfish as its red Glossolepis relatives like it, in a school of at least six with room to move, since males color best when they have rivals to display against and females to court. It is peaceful but large and lively, so give it robust, similarly sized community fish rather than tiny or timid ones. Feed well and vary the diet with flake and granules, frozen bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimp, and some algae food. A tank of 200 liters or more with swimming length suits a group.

In the wild

Dority's rainbowfish comes from floodplain lakes of the Grime River drainage in northern Papua. Give it a warm, roomy tank with hard, alkaline water, 25 to 30 degrees Celsius and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. Plenty of open swimming space with planted margins and gentle flow suits its habits, and bright morning light brings out the males' color.

Good to know

Glossolepis dorityi is a rainbowfish, family Melanotaeniidae, described by Gerald Allen in 2001, and it reaches about 13 centimeters. Males develop a brassy body crossed by red zig-zag stripes, which gives it the alternative name zig-zag rainbowfish, while females stay plainer silver-bronze. Breeding is of medium difficulty, the fish scattering adhesive eggs on fine plants or mops over several days.

Did you know

The fish is named for Dan Dority, an American missionary and rainbowfish enthusiast in New Guinea who helped collect the first specimens. In the wild it is critically endangered and known from only a couple of lakes in the Grime system.

Tank mates

Dority's rainbowfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.