TankBud

Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish

Melanotaenia parva

Also known as Sunset Dwarf Rainbowfish

FreshwaterFish

Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish (Melanotaenia parva)
Dirk Godlinski · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Melanotaeniidae
Origin
New Guinea

Overview

Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish are smaller, peaceful rainbows that do best in a group of six or more, where mature males warm up to the pink and yellow tones that earn them the sunset nickname. They swim in the middle of the tank and mix easily with other calm community fish. Their color deepens with age and a good diet, so feed varied meals of flake or small pellet with frozen bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Give them planted edges and open water to swim. Aim for a tank around 110 liters or larger.

In the wild

This rainbowfish is found only in Lake Kurumoi and its surrounding waters in West Papua, on the western side of New Guinea. The lake is warm, clear, and hard with neutral to alkaline water, matching a pH of about 7 to 8 and a temperature between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius. Recreate it with fine substrate, wood or rock, hardy plants around the sides, and clean, gently moving water.

Good to know

Melanotaenia parva is a member of Melanotaeniidae and stays small for the family at about 8 centimeters, which is what its name, meaning small, describes. Males are more colorful and a touch deeper bodied than females. It spawns like other rainbowfish, scattering a few eggs a day onto fine plants or mops across a long period and leaving them to hatch on their own. The small fry grow slowly, so breeding is considered hard.

Did you know

The Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish is restricted to a single small lake, which leaves it exposed to changes in its only home. Falling water levels and habitat pressure have raised real concern for its future in the wild.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Lake Kurumoi 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 Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish need?

A Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish need?

A Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

How big does a Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish get?

An adult Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

Does a Lake Kurumoi rainbowfish need a group?

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

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