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Klasio rainbowfish

Melanotaenia klasioensis

Also known as Klasio Creek rainbowfish

FreshwaterFish

Klasio rainbowfish (Melanotaenia klasioensis)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
6.8–8.0
Adult size
4.2 in
10.6 cm
Minimum tank
42 gal
160 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg depositor · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Melanotaeniidae
Origin
Klasio Creek, Bird's Head Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia

Overview

The Klasio rainbowfish is a vigorous, peaceful schooler for a community tank with steady flow. It is a fish for keepers ready to move past the easiest species.

Did you know

The Klasio rainbowfish's one home creek is already under threat. Its water was badly polluted after a concrete works was built upstream. That left the fish endangered only a few years after it was first named.

Caring for the Klasio rainbowfish

Klasio rainbowfish are vigorous creek fish, used to clean, well-moving water. Keep a school of six or more in at least 42 gal (160 L), with swimming length. Give them steady flow, plants and open midwater.

Aim for neutral to alkaline, moderately hard water at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.8 to 8.0. Feed them well on flake and granules with frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp, and a little green food.

Klasio rainbowfish are peaceful with other calm community fish of a similar size. Breeding them is of medium difficulty. They scatter eggs onto plants or mops daily in the standard rainbowfish way, with fine fry to raise. Keeping and breeding this threatened fish is worthwhile, so spawn the ones you keep to help hold the line.

Good to know

Melanotaenia klasioensis, family Melanotaeniidae, was described in 2015 as one of eight new rainbowfishes from the Bird's Head Region. It also goes by Klasio Creek rainbowfish.

In the wild

The Klasio rainbowfish is known only from Klasio Creek on the Bird's Head Peninsula of West Papua. The creek is a narrow karst spring that runs a few kilometers before vanishing into an underground outlet. Its clear water is rich in dissolved limestone.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Klasio 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 Klasio rainbowfish need?

A Klasio rainbowfish needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Klasio rainbowfish need?

A Klasio rainbowfish is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 6.8–8.0.

What does a Klasio rainbowfish eat?

A Klasio rainbowfish eats flake and granules, with frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. Give it a little green food as well.

How big does a Klasio rainbowfish get?

An adult Klasio rainbowfish reaches about 4.2 in (10.6 cm).

Does a Klasio rainbowfish need a group?

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

How does a Klasio rainbowfish breed?

Klasio rainbowfish scatter eggs onto plants or mops daily, the standard rainbowfish way. Breeding them is of medium difficulty, with fine fry to raise.

Related species