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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
Egg depositor · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Melanotaeniidae
Origin
New Guinea

Overview

The Lake Tebera rainbowfish is a peaceful, medium-small rainbowfish for the middle of a community tank. It asks a little more care than a beginner fish.

Did you know

The Lake Tebera rainbowfish's scientific name honors Herbert R. Axelrod, the American publisher whose books and magazines helped popularize the aquarium hobby.

Caring for the Lake Tebera rainbowfish

Keep Lake Tebera rainbowfish in a group of six or more, in a tank of 25 gal (95 L) or larger. Plant the sides and back with plenty of hardy plants, and leave open swimming space. A fine substrate with wood and rock suits them.

Keep the water clean and gently flowing, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Offer varied meals of flake or small pellet, with frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.

Lake Tebera rainbowfish are peaceful and get along with other calm community fish. Color and confidence build with a settled group and good feeding. Males carry a golden-yellow body crossed by a dark lengthwise stripe, while females are plainer and slimmer.

They spawn continuously, dropping a few eggs a day onto fine plants and spawning mops over a long spell. The parents leave the eggs, and the slow-growing fry make breeding hard for most keepers.

Good to know

Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi is a member of the rainbowfish family Melanotaeniidae. Keepers also know it as the yellow rainbowfish or the yellow rainbow.

In the wild

The Lake Tebera rainbowfish is native to Lake Tebera, in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Like several highland rainbowfish, it is known from only this one lake. Lake Tebera is warm and clear, with neutral to alkaline, moderately hard water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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.

What does a Lake Tebera rainbowfish eat?

A Lake Tebera rainbowfish eats varied meals of flake or small pellet. Add frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.

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.

How can you tell a male Lake Tebera rainbowfish from a female?

Males have a golden-yellow body crossed by a dark lengthwise stripe. Females are plainer and slimmer.

How does a Lake Tebera rainbowfish breed?

Lake Tebera rainbowfish spawn continuously, dropping a few eggs a day onto fine plants and spawning mops, then leaving them. The fry grow slowly, which makes breeding hard for most keepers.

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