Highlands rainbowfish

Chilatherina campsi

Also known as Camp's rainbowfish

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 70–81°F (21–27°C)
pH: 6.8–8.0
Adult size: 3.4 in (8.6 cm)
Minimum tank: 29 gal (110 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Highland tributaries of the Markham, Ramu, Sepik and Purari systems, Papua New Guinea
Family: Melanotaeniidae

Overview

A cooler-water rainbowfish that suits an unheated or lightly heated tank, kept in a school of six or more where the males chase and display in the current all morning. It is peaceful and pairs well with other calm fish that share its preference for brisk, well-oxygenated water. Standard rainbowfish feeding keeps it in condition: flake and granules, frozen daphnia and brine shrimp, and a little vegetable food. A group is happy in around 110 liters with room to swim and some flow.

In the wild

The highlands rainbowfish lives in cooler upland tributaries of several great Papua New Guinea river systems, the Markham, Ramu, Sepik, and Purari, at elevations well above the lowland species. Keep it a touch cooler than most rainbowfishes, 21 to 27 degrees Celsius, in neutral to alkaline water at a pH of 6.8 to 8.0, with steady flow and good oxygenation.

Good to know

Chilatherina campsi, family Melanotaeniidae, was first described by Whitley in 1956 and later placed in the genus Chilatherina, and it reaches about 8.6 centimeters. It is one of the few rainbowfishes adapted to highland streams, and wild populations differ noticeably in color between drainages. Breeding is of medium difficulty, in the usual egg-scattering way onto plants or mops.

Did you know

Most rainbowfishes are lowland heat-lovers, but this one lives in cool mountain streams up to about 1,500 meters above sea level, and it prefers water that would leave its lowland cousins sluggish.

Tank mates

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