TankBud

Price's rainbowfish

Chilatherina pricei

Also known as Price rainbowfish

FreshwaterFish

Price's rainbowfish (Chilatherina pricei)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
6.8–8.0
Adult size
4 in
10.2 cm
Minimum tank
42 gal
160 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Melanotaeniidae
Origin
Northern Papua, Indonesia

Overview

Price's rainbowfish is an active, peaceful schooler for a long tank with room to sprint. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

Unlike most rainbowfishes, which favor weedy, still water, Price's rainbowfish lives over rocky, boulder-strewn river beds.

Caring for the Price's rainbowfish

Keep Price's rainbowfish in a school of six or more, in a tank of 42 gal (160 L) or larger. Favor a long tank, since the males chase and display in fast arcs when the lights come up. Add smooth rocks and leave open swimming space.

Keep the water neutral to alkaline, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.8 to 8.0. A steady current suits them. They take flake, granules and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp without fuss.

Price's rainbowfish are peaceful and mix well with other active, similarly sized community fish. Breeding them is of medium difficulty, and they scatter adhesive eggs onto plants or mops.

Good to know

Chilatherina pricei is a member of the family Melanotaeniidae, described by Allen and Renyaan in 1996. It is a slender fish with a dusky band along the flank, and displaying males flush yellow-orange in the fins. The name honors David Price, who collected the first specimens.

In the wild

Price's rainbowfish comes from Yapen Island in Cenderawasih Bay, off the north coast of Papua, Indonesia. It lives in flowing streams on the island.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Price's 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 Price's rainbowfish need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Price's rainbowfish need?

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

What does a Price's rainbowfish eat?

A Price's rainbowfish eats flake, granules and frozen foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. It takes them without fuss.

How big does a Price's rainbowfish get?

An adult Price's rainbowfish reaches about 4 in (10.2 cm).

Does a Price's rainbowfish need a group?

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

How does a Price's rainbowfish breed?

Price's rainbowfish scatter adhesive eggs onto plants or mops. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Related species