Radužnica Iriani
Melanothenia Iriani or Rainbow Iriani, scientific name Melanotaenia irianjaya, belongs to the Melanotaeniidae family. It is unpretentious, easy to keep and breed, compatible with many other fish species, and also has a beautiful body color. All this makes it a good choice for the beginner aquarist.
Contents
Habitat
Comes from the island of New Guinea. Endemic to a small area in the west of the island known as Irian Jaya, West Irian. It lives in river systems flowing into the Seram Sea. Prefers regions with a moderate and slow current, keeps close to the coast among the flooded trees and other snags.
Brief information:
- The volume of the aquarium – from 100 liters.
- Temperature – 23-26°C
- Value pH — 6.5–8.0
- Water hardness – medium hard (10-15 dGH)
- Substrate type – any
- Lighting – subdued
- Brackish water – no
- Water Movement – Low/Moderate
- The size of the fish is up to 12 cm.
- Food – any food
- Temperament – peaceful active
- Keeping a flock of at least 6-8 individuals
Description
Adults reach a length of about 12 cm. The color is bluish-gray with a white belly and a yellow horizontal stripe. The edges of the fins are red. Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed. Males are slightly brighter and larger than females.
Food
Fish are unpretentious in terms of diet and nutritional composition. Accepts most types of popular foods (dry, frozen, live). It is advisable to combine different products. For example, flakes and granules should be served with bloodworms or brine shrimp. This diet will allow the fish to show their best colors.
Maintenance and care, decoration of the aquarium
The optimal size of the tank for a small flock of fish starts from 100 liters. Formatting is of no importance. Rainbow Iriani will feel equally comfortable in a half-empty aquarium with sandy soil and a few snags, as well as among dense thickets of aquatic plants.
Despite the fact that the fish originate from regions with a moderate current, it is not necessary to recreate such conditions. The only important condition for maintenance is the high quality of water. Acquisition of a productive filtration system and weekly replacement of part of the water (15–20% of the volume) with fresh water, which will maintain acceptable living conditions for these tropical fish and minimize the risk of organic waste accumulation.
Behavior and Compatibility
Active peaceful fish, compatible with other non-aggressive species of similar size. Excessive mobility of the Southern Rainbow can adversely affect slower neighbors, so it is advisable to exclude them. Keeping in a flock of at least 6-8 individuals of both sexes.
Breeding / breeding
Raduzhnitsy breeding is possible both in general and in a separate spawning aquarium. Favorable conditions for the beginning of the mating season are achieved at a temperature of 26–28°C, in slightly alkaline (up to pH 7.5) water of medium hardness. The design should contain thickets of small-leaved plants or their artificial analogues, acting as a spawning substrate, among which the females will lay their eggs.
Spawning lasts about 2 weeks, during this time the female lays several dozen eggs daily, and the male fertilizes them. Parental instincts are not developed, therefore, after the end of spawning, the fish do not show any interest in future offspring. If breeding was carried out in a common aquarium, then it is advisable to move the eggs to a separate tank with identical conditions. Otherwise, there is a great risk of them being eaten by other fish. In the absence of a spawning aquarium, dense clusters of floating plants can be acquired. They will serve as a safe haven for fry, which at first stay close to the surface.
The incubation period lasts about 7-12 days. In the first days of life, fry are able to eat only microscopic food, for example, ciliates. After a week, Artemia nauplius or specialized powdered food for juvenile aquarium fish can be fed. It is worth noting that it is rather problematic to feed the Rainbow fry in a common aquarium than in a separate spawning one.
Fish diseases
Health problems arise only in case of injuries or when kept in unsuitable conditions, which depresses the immune system and, as a result, provokes the occurrence of any disease. In the event of the appearance of the first symptoms, first of all, it is necessary to check the water for the excess of certain indicators or the presence of dangerous concentrations of toxic substances (nitrites, nitrates, ammonium, etc.). If deviations are found, bring all values back to normal and only then proceed with treatment. Read more about symptoms and treatments in the Aquarium Fish Diseases section.
