Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 3"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 70-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 5.8-6.5
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Indonesia   • Family: Melanotaeniidae
• Species: Rainbowfish   • Aquarium Type: Community

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From the swiftly flowing streams and rivers of Indonesia, the Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish is a brightly colored species that brings an active swimming style and attractive coloration to any freshwater community aquarium. Their native environment makes has made the Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish a very strong swimmer that requires very good water quality with high levels of dissolved oxygen.

Their good temperament and schooling swimming style have made them a very popular species of rainbowfish with aquarium hobbyists, which has led to them being bred in captivity and commonly available within the aquarium hobby. Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish have a brilliant blue sheen on their body with yellowish-orange to red finnage depending on sex.

They are easy to sex as males have bright red fins and females having fins ranging in color from yellow to light orange. Their coloration is best brought out in aquariums that have some shade plants or floating plants along with a dark substrate and aquarium background.

Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish do well in aquariums that have live plants, good water flow, and plenty of swimming room. As this species is ideally kept in small to medium sized groups, their active swimming style and schooling nature is best suited for larger community aquariums that allow them plenty of room to move about. This species is native to fast flowing streams and rivers, thus it is important to maintain very high water quality and good water movement within the aquarium.

Along with excellent water quality and water flow, the Dwarf Neon is sensitive to low levels of oxygen, thus the aquarium water should have a high level of dissolved oxygen. Dwarf neon's do best when kept in schools of 6 or more individuals that are comprised of 2 to 3 females per male and introduced to the aquarium at the same time.

In their natural environment, the Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish lives in soft, slightly acidic water, but will also do well in aquariums containing a neutral pH if they are acclimated properly.

Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish eat a variety of foods in the wild ranging from insects to plant matter. An ideal diet for this species will provide a variety of meaty and plant based foods ranging from insects, small worms, plant material, algae and a mix of flake, frozen and freeze-dried preparations.

They will pick at plant roots, algae and small floating plants like duckweed. The addition of insects, blackworms, or live or frozen foods like brine shrimp and tubifex worms will help guarantee the Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish a varied and healthy diet.