Madagascar rainbowfish

Care at a glance

Overview

Madagascar rainbowfish are lively, peaceful schoolers that do best in a group of six or more, where males show off the red-edged, forked tails that mark the species. They swim in the middle of the tank and suit an active community of other calm, similarly sized fish. They are strong swimmers and appreciate room to move, along with a varied diet of flake or pellet, frozen bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Plant the sides and back and keep a long open lane down the center. Aim for a tank around 170 liters or larger.

In the wild

This rainbowfish comes from the streams and rivers of eastern Madagascar, where it lives in flowing, well-oxygenated water among plants and cover. Those waters are warm and run slightly acidic to neutral, matching a pH of about 6.5 to 7.5 and a broad recorded temperature range of roughly 23 to 32 degrees Celsius. Recreate it with fine substrate, wood and rock, robust plants around the edges, and clean water with a steady gentle current.

Good to know

Bedotia madagascariensis is not a true rainbowfish but a member of Bedotiidae, a small family of silverside relatives found only on Madagascar. It grows to around 8.5 centimeters, with males showing more color in the fins than females. It scatters eggs among fine plants over a long spawning period, and the sticky eggs hang from plant leaves until they hatch. Rearing the fry through their slow early stage makes breeding hard.

Did you know

Much of what is sold as the Madagascar rainbowfish is actually its close relative Bedotia geayi, and the two are easily mixed up in shops. Both belong to a family of fishes found nowhere on Earth except Madagascar.

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