Irian Jaya rainbowfish

Melanotaenia irianjaya

Also known as Irian rainbowfish

FreshwaterFish

Irian Jaya rainbowfish (Melanotaenia irianjaya) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–84°F (24–29°C)
pH: 6.5–8.0
Adult size: 3.9 in (10 cm)
Minimum tank: 42 gal (160 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Bird's Neck region, West Papua, Indonesia
Family: Melanotaeniidae

Overview

An easy, calm rainbowfish that makes a good introduction to the larger species, kept in a school of six or more for natural shoaling and the best color. It is one of the more laid-back big rainbowfishes, gentle enough to keep with smaller community fish that faster or pushier species would unsettle. Feed a varied diet of flake and granules with frozen bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimp, plus some algae food. A group settles well in a tank of around 160 liters with open swimming space.

In the wild

The Irian Jaya rainbowfish comes from streams of the narrow Bird's Neck isthmus in western New Guinea, on the Vogelkop and Bomberai peninsulas. Keep it at 24 to 29 degrees Celsius in neutral to alkaline, moderately hard water at a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. A planted tank with driftwood and open midwater suits it, with bright light to draw out the males' violet tones.

Good to know

Melanotaenia irianjaya, family Melanotaeniidae, was described by Allen in 1985 and reaches about 10 centimeters. Males deepen to violet-grey with a broad bluish stripe along the flank and orange-edged fins. Breeding is of medium difficulty, the fish scattering adhesive eggs onto fine plants or spawning mops over several days, with tiny fry to raise.

Did you know

The name is a geographic time capsule. Irian Jaya was the Indonesian name for the region until it was renamed Papua in 2002, but the fish keeps the old province name on its scientific label for good.

Tank mates

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