Wapoga rainbowfish

Melanotaenia rubrivittata

Also known as Red-laced rainbowfish, Red laser rainbow

FreshwaterFish

Wapoga rainbowfish (Melanotaenia rubrivittata) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–84°F (24–29°C)
pH: 6.5–7.8
Adult size: 2.2 in (5.6 cm)
Minimum tank: 24 gal (90 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Wapoga River system, Papua, Indonesia
Family: Melanotaeniidae

Overview

A dwarf rainbowfish that fits tanks the big species would overwhelm, kept in a lively school of ten or more where the males flash and spar. It is peaceful and belongs with other small, calm community fish. Feed fine foods: crushed flake, small granules, and frozen or live daphnia, cyclops, and baby brine shrimp, which bring out the red. A group swims happily in around 90 liters with plants, some moss, and open lanes, and it breeds readily in fine-leaved plants and spawning mops.

In the wild

The Wapoga rainbowfish comes from small forest tributaries of the Wapoga River in northern Papua. Keep it at 24 to 29 degrees Celsius in soft to moderately hard water around neutral, a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. A planted tank with driftwood, fine-leaved plants, and open swimming lanes suits a busy little school, with bright light to bring out the red lacing along the flanks.

Good to know

Melanotaenia rubrivittata, family Melanotaeniidae, was described by Unmack, Allen, and Hadiaty in 2015, and it stays under 6 centimeters. The name means red-striped, for the crimson lacing along its flanks. It closely resembles the popular dwarf neon rainbowfish, Melanotaenia praecox, but wears red rather than neon blue. Breeding is of medium difficulty, with adhesive eggs scattered on fine plants or mops.

Did you know

It looks much like the well known dwarf neon rainbowfish but is laced with red instead of neon blue, which is why the trade sells it as the Wapoga red laser rainbowfish.