Red Rainbowfish (Glossolepis incisus)

Scientific Name(s): Glossolepis incisus

 

Common Name(s): Red Rainbowfish, Irian Jaya Rainbowfish, Salmon Red Rainbowfish, Red Rainbow Fish

 

Family: Melanotaeniidae

 

Species Type: Rainbowfishes

 

Maximum Size: 5 inches

 

Life Span: 7 years

 

Natural Habitat: Asian Lakes (endemic to Lake Sentani in Irian Jaya, Indonesia)

 

Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallons

 

Tank Region: Middle to top of tank.

 

Possible Tank Mates: Other peaceful community fish

 

Description: Females have a yellowish olive body color with a golden iridescence to the scales; all fins are clear. The males on the other hand are brilliant, the entire body and fins are a bright salmon-red color. Some of the scales have a silvery sheen, which creates a most unusual effect over the red background color. Young fish are all rather dull in color, being an overall olive greenish color with a trace of silvery sheen. However, once the fish reaches a length of about 2 inches, the males begin to color up. Once the color change begins to occur it progresses quite rapidly. By the time the fish are 3 inches long the males should have their full intense red coloration. Body slender and laterally compressed. Two dorsal fins, very close together, the first much smaller than the second. Males are typically deeper bodied than females and have a high rounded back which gives them the appearance of having a relatively small head and disproportionately large eyes. May reach a maximum size of 6 inches, but usually less than 5 inches.

 

Temperature Range 71°F - 81°F

60°F

65°F

70°F

75°F

80°F

85°F

90°F

 

pH Range 7 - 8

pH 5.0

pH 6.0

pH 7.0

pH 8.0

pH 9.0

 

Hardness 8° - 20°

0°

10°

20°

30°

40°

 

Breeding Information: Furnish the tank with Java Moss and fine-leaved plants. Place only the pair in the tank and raise the temperature to 75-81°F (24-27°C). A small number of eggs is laid daily for several months. The clear eggs adhere to plants with thin threads. These hatch after seven to eight days and are ignored by the parents. The young first feed on roftiers, but later can be given egg yolk and Artemia nauplii. The young require small, frequent water changes.

 

Sexing Information: Males are bright red to copper in color, occasionally have silver upperparts. The fins are also red. Females are silver to yellow-brown in color.

 

Diet: Omnivorous - Does well with floating pellet or flake foods, but diet should also include some live foods such as insect larvae, worms and small insects.

 

Temperment: Peaceful schooling fish

 

Common Diseases: None specific to species, but does require very good water quality.

 

This profile has been viewed 319 times.

 

VIEW THIS FISH ON TANKPLANNER.COM

Red Rainbowfish (Glossolepis incisus)