Turquoise Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia lacustris
Family: Melanotaeniidae • Origin: Various
Turquoise Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lacustris) is a peaceful rainbow reaching 5 inches. Keep in groups of 6+. Minimum tank: 20 gallons.
Min Tank
20 gal
Max Size
5"
Temperature
72-79°F
pH
7-8
Lifespan
8 years
School Size
6+
Swim Level
middle
Hardness
5-15 dGH
peacefulintermediateomnivoreschooling
Care Tips
- • Max size: 5"
- • Temp: 72-79°F
- • pH: 7-8
- • Schooling: keep 6+
- • peaceful temperament
Feeding: Standard omnivore diet appropriate for Melanotaeniidae.
Compatibility Notes: Typical peaceful Melanotaeniidae species.
Tank Setup & Water Parameters
Tank Requirements
- Minimum Tank Size
- 20 gallons
- Recommended Tank Size
- 30 gallons
- Swimming Level
- middle
- Minimum School Size
- 6+ fish
Water Parameters
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- pH Range
- 7–8
- Hardness (dGH)
- 5–15
- Water Type
- freshwater
Behavior & Temperament
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Aggression Level
- 1/5
- Schooling
- Yes
- Territorial
- No
- Fin Nipper
- No
- Predatory
- No
- Diet Type
- omnivore
- Growth Rate
- moderate
Typical peaceful Melanotaeniidae species.
Breeding
- Breeding Type
- egg layer
- Breeding Difficulty
- moderate
- Lifespan
- 8 years
Ideal For
20 gallon
Compatible Tank Mates
View all →
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
73-81°FpH 5.5-7.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+1.6"
Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
72-82°FpH 6-7.520+ gal
semi-aggressiveschooling 6+1.75"
Black Skirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
70-82°FpH 6-7.515+ gal
peacefulschooling 5+3"
Congo Tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
75-81°FpH 6-7.530+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+3.5"
Betta Fish
Betta splendens
76-82°FpH 6.5-7.55+ gal
semi-aggressive3"
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
72-82°FpH 6.8-7.810+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+2.5"
Similar Species
Boesemani Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia boesemani
75-82°FpH 7-830+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+4.5"
Madagascar Rainbowfish
Bedotia geayi
72-79°FpH 6.5-7.520+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+5"
Red Rainbowfish
Glossolepis incisus
72-82°FpH 7-840+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+6"
Threadfin Rainbowfish
Iriatherina werneri
75-82°FpH 5.5-7.515+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+2"