Goliad Farms, LP - Spawning Rainbowfish

Rainbowfishes are a group of 50+ closely related freshwater species from Australia and New Guinea (with a single species from Madagascar) belonging to the fish order Athriniformes, which is mostly a marine group, and the family Melanotaeniidae (click here for a general discussion of rainbowfishes).

Rainbowfishes, although exotic looking, are not difficult fish to breed in aquaria. They have several advantages over most other egg-layers, including:

     nothing is more spectacular than courting rainbowfish,
     adults are easy to condition,
     they spawn under a wide range of conditions,
     spawning setups are not complicated,
     they lay eggs daily,
     they can be bred as pairs, trios, harems or in groups,
     the eggs are easy to care for,
     the fry are easy to feed, and
     the fry grow rapidly.

Rainbowfish males are absolutely beautiful when displaying for a recalcitrant female. They tend to spawn in the morning. The male holds his fins out and swims rapidly back and forth to lure a mate. When a female responds, the pair sidles side-by-side and the eggs are expelled into or onto plant leaves or roots. Then, the whole process begins anew.

Rainbowfish adults are easy to condition. They are voracious eaters of both prepared foods and live foods. While live foods are beneficial and bring these fish into spawning condition rapidly, a good diet of high quality flake foods supplemented with frozen foods such as brine shrimp is also adequate.

Rainbowfishes in good health will spawn. If the water conditions support the fish in a healthy state then the females will produce eggs and the males will court.

Female rainbowfishes that are properly cared for and fed will lay eggs daily (6-40 typically). Males in good health attempt to spawn with any available female (including those of another species). If the water conditions allow for good health, rainbowfish will mate.

Rainbowfishes are not picky about mates. Males court any female and females, while showing mate preferences if presented with choices, will mate with any male. Rainbowfishes can be maintained as pairs, but it is important to watch that the male does not pursue the female too hard. While they are not particularly aggressive, males can damage a female if she is not amorous enough. Keeping rainbowfishes in trios or harems solves this problem. Having multiple females prevents the male from driving a single female too hard. The author prefers a ratio of 1 male to 6 females; that way the male always has a willing female. A more natural, and probably better arrangement, is group spawning. The author uses 4-6 females per male and at least 4 males. The presence of many females helps keep the males diverted. Using more than 3 males reduces male- to-male aggression. Any of these methods work.

Rainbowfish spawning setups are simple. Large acrylic spawning mops and plants such as hornwort, Java moss and water hyacinth are suitable spawning media. Simply place spawning media in with well-conditioned breeders and let nature take its course.

Rainbowfish females, when fed properly, lay from 6-40 eggs daily. While an individual female might rest for brief periods, if more than one female is used, eggs are produced continuously. Most rainbowfish do not eat eggs so there is no need to remove the eggs before they are ready to hatch.

Hatching rainbowfish eggs is simple. Leave the spawning media in place for about 12-14 days, then either remove the adults or the media. If removing the media, place it in an aquarium with similar water. The eggs will begin to hatch the next day or so and continue for a couple of weeks.

Rainbowfish fry are not difficult to rear. The fry begin to eat shortly after hatching. The best foods include green water cultures, Paramecium, vinegar eels, and microworms. Fry can be reared with commercial fry preparations, but the results will not be as good and fewer fish will survive.

Fed properly and all they want to eat, rainbowfish grow rapidly. Most species reach sexual maturity by 4 months and begin coloring up at 2-3 months.

Below is a list of rainbowfish species most authorities accept. The species highlighted and underlined are those Santa Fe Tropical Fish produces. Click on the name to see a description of a particular species or click here to see a price list for the species we produce.

     Carirnsichthys rhombosomoides
     Chilatherina axelrodi
     Chilatherina bleheri
     Chilatherina bulolo
     Chilatherina campsi
     Chilatherina crassispinosa
     Chilatherina fasciata
     Chilatherina lorentzi
     Chilatherina sentaniensis
     Iriatherina werneri
     Glossolepis incisus
     Glossolepis maculosus
     Glossolepis multisquamatus
     Glossolepis pseudoincisus
     Glossolepis ramuensis
     Glossolepis wanamensis
     Melanotaenia affinis
     Melanotaenia ajamaruensis
     Melanotaenia angfa
     Melanotaenia arfakensis
     Melanotaenia boesemani
     Melanotaenia corona
     Melanotaenia catherinae
     Melanotaenia eachamensis
     Melanotaenia exquisita
     Melanotaenia fluviatilis
     Melanotaenia fredericki
     Melanotaenia goldiei
     Melanotaenia gracilis
     Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi
     Melanotaenia irianjaya
     Melanotaenia iris
     Melanotaenia japenensis
     Melanotaenia lacustris
     Melanotaenia maccullochi
     Melanotaenia maylandi
     Melanotaenia misoolensis
     Melanotaenia monticola
     Melanotaenia nigrans
     Melanotaenia ogilbyi
     Melanotaenia oktediensis
     Melanotaenia papuae
     Melanotaenia parkinsoni
     Melanotaenia parva
     Melanotaenia pimanensis
     Melanotaenia praecox
     Melanotaenia pygmaea
     Melanotaenia sexlineata
     Melanotaenia splendida australis
     Melanotaenia splendida inornata
     Melanotaenia splendida rubrostriata
     Melanotaenia splendida splendida
     Melanotaenia splendida tatei
     Melanotaenia trifasciata
     Melanotaenia vanheurni
     Rhadinocentrus ornatus

For additional information and a list of resources about rainbowfishes, click here for our library or click on one of the following organization names:

      Rainbow Study Group
      Australian New Guinea Fishes Association (ANGFA)
      British Rainbowfish and Gobie Society BRAGS
      Internationale Gesellschaft für Regenbogenfische e.V. IRG

One advantage of keeping and raising rainbowfish is a growing international community that shares your interest. Every hobbyist should join a non-profit organization sharing his or her interests. Membership brings a wealth of information in the form of monthly publications and provides ready sources of fish and eggs.

For articles about rainbowfishes, click on one of the following article names:

      Rainbowfishes & Their Environment by Adrian Tappin
      The Rainbowfish Family by Adrian Tappin
      Keeping Rainbowfishes in Captivity by Adrian Tappin
      Feeding Rainbowfishes by Adrian Tappin
      Breeding Rainbowfishes by Adrian Tappin
      Raising Rainbowfish Fry by Adrian Tappin
      A Primer on Breeding Rainbowfish of the Genus Melanotaenia by Cary Hostrawser

Page last modified December 8, 2004