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Sentani rainbowfish

Chilatherina sentaniensis

Also known as Lake Sentani rainbowfish, Sentaniensis rainbow

FreshwaterFish

Sentani rainbowfish (Chilatherina sentaniensis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–86°F
25–30°C
pH
7.0–8.2
Adult size
4.5 in
11.5 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
Lake Sentani, Papua, Indonesia

Overview

The Sentani rainbowfish is as much a conservation project as a display fish, a peaceful midwater schooler for a roomy tank. Keepers with a little experience will find it straightforward.

Did you know

Collectors took a large group of Sentani rainbowfish from Lake Sentani in the 1950s. Later surveys in the 1980s and 1990s struggled to find any. The aquarium strains kept by hobbyists may now hold a real part of the species' future.

Caring for the Sentani rainbowfish

Keep Sentani rainbowfish in a school of six or more, in a roomy tank of 42 gal (160 L) or larger. Give them open swimming room, planted margins and some structure. They spend most of their time cruising the midwater.

Keep the water warm, hard and alkaline, at 77 to 86°F (25 to 30°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. Feed a varied diet of flake and granules, plus frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp.

Sentani rainbowfish are peaceful alongside other calm fish of similar size. Breeding them is of medium difficulty, and they scatter adhesive eggs onto plants or mops. If you can, breed them and keep strains unmixed, since aquarium populations matter for the species' future.

Good to know

Chilatherina sentaniensis is a member of the family Melanotaeniidae, and it is critically endangered in the wild. Lake Sentani has suffered from introduced predatory fish, pollution and deforestation, and pure wild fish are now very scarce. Aquarium lines descend from early exports. It is also called the Lake Sentani rainbowfish.

In the wild

The Sentani rainbowfish is endemic to Lake Sentani, near Jayapura in Papua. The lake is warm and alkaline, and hills ring its shores.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Sentani 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 Sentani rainbowfish need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Sentani rainbowfish need?

A Sentani rainbowfish is comfortable at 77–86°F (25–30°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.

What does a Sentani rainbowfish eat?

A Sentani rainbowfish eats a varied diet of flake and granules. Add frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp.

How big does a Sentani rainbowfish get?

An adult Sentani rainbowfish reaches about 4.5 in (11.5 cm).

Does a Sentani rainbowfish need a group?

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

How does a Sentani rainbowfish breed?

Sentani rainbowfish scatter adhesive eggs onto plants or mops. Breeding them is of medium difficulty, and keepers who do should keep their strains unmixed.

Related species