Family: Melanotaeniidae
Papuan Threadfin Rainbowfish — a Melanotaeniidae from N Australia & New Guinea, peaceful schooling fish; males shimmer and spar gently. Reaches 3–4.4 cm; groups of 6–8 minimum; larger schools calm them. 26–30 °C.
Iriatherina werneri, a member of the family Melanotaeniidae, comes from N Australia & New Guinea, where it inhabits warm freshwater streams and lakes. Peaceful schooling fish; males shimmer and spar gently and omnivore; quality flakes plus vegetable matter, it grows to 3–4.4 cm and adapts well to a properly set-up aquarium in the 26–30 °C range. In a community tank it pairs well with Robust peaceful cyprinids.
Difficulty: moderate. Peaceful schooling fish; males shimmer and spar gently. Groups of 6–8 minimum; larger schools calm them.
Hold 26–30 °C and keep it stable — 26–30 °C recorded range. Stable temperature matching the species origin.
Full size is 3–4.4 cm. Minimum tank: 25 L, with open swimming space along its bottom-dwelling habits.
Omnivore; quality flakes plus vegetable matter. It forages naturally over fine sand and gravel, so let some food reach the bottom.
Peaceful schooling fish; males shimmer and spar gently. Recommended tankmates: Robust peaceful cyprinids — Add motion without menace. Avoid Small timid fish — Outcompeted at feeding time.
Native to N Australia & New Guinea, where it lives in warm freshwater streams and lakes. Still to gentle current; Moderate oxygen levels.
Jumping is not a known issue; cover the tank anyway during water changes.
Prolific egg-scatterer when kept hard and alkaline. Subtle external differences.