Celebes Rainbowfish are a beautiful and active addition to a well-maintained community tank, bringing a subtle iridescence and constant movement to the mid and upper levels of the aquarium. Their peaceful nature and relatively hardy disposition (once properly acclimated) make them a great choice for both beginner and experienced aquarists who appreciate their unique charm.
The Celebes Rainbowfish, scientifically known as Marosatherina ladigesi, is a captivating and elegant freshwater fish originating from the island of Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) in Indonesia. They are a popular choice among aquarium enthusiasts due to their peaceful nature, active swimming habits, and subtle yet attractive coloration.
Key Characteristics:
- Appearance: Celebes Rainbowfish have slender, almost transparent bodies with a shimmering emerald-green or yellowish-green hue along their flanks. A prominent blue or silver stripe often runs along the lateral line. Their fins are particularly striking in males, which are typically more colorful and possess elongated yellow and black dorsal and ventral fins, giving them a somewhat "sailfin" appearance. Females are generally less vibrant and have shorter fins.
- Temperament: They are known for being very peaceful and are well-suited for community aquariums with other non-aggressive fish of similar size.
- Size: They are considered a dwarf rainbowfish species, with males reaching about 6-8 cm (2.4-3.1 inches) and females slightly smaller at 5-7 cm (2-2.8 inches).
- Social Behavior: Celebes Rainbowfish are social schooling fish and thrive best when kept in groups of at least six or more individuals. Larger groups will result in more confident behavior and enhance their coloration, especially in males as they display to each other.
- Tank Requirements:
- A tank with a minimum size of 80 liters (20 gallons) is recommended for a small school, but larger tanks are preferable to provide ample swimming space. A longer tank is better suited to their active nature.
- They appreciate a well-planted aquarium with both dense vegetation for cover and open areas for swimming. Live plants such as Java fern, Anubias, and floating plants are ideal.
- A dark substrate can help to intensify their colors.
- Moderate lighting is suitable, and floating plants can help diffuse the light, creating more comfortable conditions.
- Gentle to moderate filtration is best, as they do not prefer strong currents. A good filtration system is essential to maintain water quality.
- A secure lid is necessary as they are known to be jumpers, especially if startled.
- Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 22-28°C (72-82°F), with a slightly cooler range of 21-23°C (70-73°F) potentially encouraging spawning.
- pH: 7.0-8.0. They prefer slightly alkaline to neutral water and do not do well in acidic conditions.
- Hardness: Moderate to hard water (10-25 dKH or 150-300 ppm). They are more tolerant of harder water than soft water.
- Diet: They are omnivores and require a varied diet. Offer high-quality tropical flake or micro pellets as a staple, supplemented with small live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms. They also benefit from vegetable matter or algae-based foods. Feed small amounts once or twice a day.
- Compatibility: They are generally compatible with other peaceful community fish that prefer similar water parameters, such as:
- Small tetras (e.g., Neon Tetras, Rummy Nose Tetras)
- Peaceful rasboras (e.g., Harlequin Rasboras)
- Livebearers (e.g., Guppies, Endlers)
- Peaceful bottom dwellers (e.g., Corydoras catfish)
- Freshwater gobies
- Most invertebrates too large to be considered prey (they may prey on dwarf shrimp).
- Avoid housing them with aggressive or fin-nipping species.
Breeding:
Breeding Celebes Rainbowfish in the home aquarium can be a rewarding experience:
- Breeding Setup: A separate breeding tank with shallow water (around 10-15 cm or 4-6 inches) and plenty of fine-leaved plants or spawning mops should be set up. The water temperature should be in the upper end of their preferred range (26-28°C or 79-82°F), with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.5).
- Spawning Behavior: The male will actively court the female, displaying his vibrant fins. They are egg-scatterers, releasing their relatively large, adhesive eggs among the plants or spawning mops over several days or even weeks.
- Parental Care: The adult fish will readily eat the eggs, so it's crucial to remove the parents to the main tank after spawning or transfer the spawning media to a separate hatching tank.
- Egg Incubation: The eggs typically hatch within 7-14 days, depending on the water temperature.
- Fry Care: The fry are quite small and initially feed on infusoria or commercially available liquid fry food. Once they are larger, they can be fed newly hatched brine shrimp and finely crushed high-quality flakes. The fry tend to stay near the water surface. Regular, small water changes are important for their development, but be careful not to siphon out the tiny fry. They grow relatively slowly, reaching maturity in about 7 months.
