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Lake Tebera rainbowfish

Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi

Also known as Yellow rainbowfish, Yellow rainbow

FreshwaterFish

Lake Tebera rainbowfish (Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi)
User:Haplochromis · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F
20–26°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
3.5 in
9 cm
Minimum tank
25 gal
95 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Melanotaeniidae
Origin
New Guinea

Overview

Lake Tebera rainbowfish are peaceful, medium-small rainbows that do best in a group of six or more, where males take on the yellow body and dark midline stripe that set the species apart. They keep to the middle of the tank and get along with other calm community fish. Color and confidence build with a settled group and good feeding, so offer varied meals of flake or small pellet, frozen bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Plant the sides and back and leave open swimming space. Aim for a tank around 95 liters or larger.

In the wild

This rainbowfish is native to Lake Tebera in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, a warm, clear lake with neutral to alkaline, moderately hard water. Those conditions match a pH of about 7 to 8 and a temperature between 20 and 26 degrees Celsius. Recreate the habitat with a fine substrate, wood and rock, plenty of hardy plants around the margins, and clean, gently flowing water.

Good to know

Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi is a member of Melanotaeniidae and reaches about 9 centimeters. Males carry a golden-yellow body crossed by a dark lengthwise stripe, while females are plainer and slimmer. Like its relatives it is a continuous egg-scatterer, dropping a few eggs a day onto fine plants and spawning mops over a long spell, then leaving them. The slow-growing fry make breeding hard for most keepers.

Did you know

The species is named after Herbert R. Axelrod, the American publisher whose books and magazines helped popularize the aquarium hobby. Like several highland rainbowfish, it is known from only one lake.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Lake Tebera 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 Tebera rainbowfish need?

A Lake Tebera rainbowfish needs at least 25 gal (95 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Lake Tebera rainbowfish need?

A Lake Tebera rainbowfish is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

How big does a Lake Tebera rainbowfish get?

An adult Lake Tebera rainbowfish reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).

Does a Lake Tebera rainbowfish need a group?

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

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