Melanotaenia maccullochi

Origin

 * Found in lower and middle sections of the Fly River westward to the Bensbach River in Papua New Guinea and also northeastern Australia.

Sexing

 * Mature males are more colourful than females and have more elongated finnage.

Tank compatibility

 * A sociable shoaling fish that should be kept in at least groups of 6-8. It is entirely peaceful and does best in peaceful set ups with other Rainbowfish, peaceful catfish like Corydoras and non-nippy shoaling fish such as Cardinal Tetras and Harlequin Rasboras.

Diet

 * This fish will accept most foods including pellet and flake as well as live/frozen food like daphnia and brine shrimp. Live foods enhance their colours.

Feeding regime

 * Feed once or twice a day.

Environment Specifics

 * These fish do best in densely planted mature tanks with good filtration but not too much current and plenty of optional hiding places. They are sensitive to water quality problems.

Behaviour

 * A peaceful mid-dwelling shoaling fish.

Identification

 * There are several regional variations of this fish. It is best not to mix variants as they will hybridise, to the point some are so different they may be classed as different species in future. They lack the large humped back of other well known Rainbowfish, with only a slight hump but still with the pointed snout and large eyes, several lateral lines are usually visible.