{"product_id":"praecox-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-praecox","title":"Praecox Rainbowfish | Melanotaenia praecox","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Praecox or Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish is a pocket rocket — shimmering electric blue with contrasting red-orange fins that flash as the fish turns. Peaceful, hardy and endlessly active, it stays small at around 6–8 cm and looks its best in a lively shoal in a planted tank. Keep a group of six or more for confident, natural behaviour and the strongest colour.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelanotaenia praecox comes from the clear, flowing forest streams and tributaries of the Mamberamo river system in West Papua, New Guinea. The water is clean, well-oxygenated and moderately hard. Planting, some current, open swimming space and good light recreate its home and bring out the blue shimmer.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA small, deep-bodied rainbowfish with a metallic blue body that glows under good lighting, set off by red-orange dorsal, anal and tail fins — brightest in males, softer in females. Colour develops with maturity and is at its most electric in a settled shoal with a varied diet and strong light.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeaceful and highly active, spending its time dashing about the middle of the tank. It is an excellent community fish among similarly-sized, non-timid tankmates, though its speed can unsettle very shy species. A good-sized shoal keeps males colourful and displaying to one another rather than pestering others.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn omnivore that readily takes quality flake and small pellets, plus frozen and live foods such as daphnia, bloodworm and brine shrimp. Its small, upturned mouth suits smaller foods. A varied diet with some colour-enhancing and vegetable content keeps the blue and red vivid.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 75 L, with 100 L or larger better for a proper shoal and swimming room. Keep temperature at 23–27 °C, pH 6.5–7.5 (tolerating up to about 8.0) and neutral to moderately hard water, which it actually prefers over very soft. Good filtration, some flow and regular water changes suit this active, hardy fish well.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn egg-scattering species that spawns continuously among fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop, attaching small eggs by fine threads over a period of days. The adults give no parental care and will eat eggs and fry, so plants or a mop can be moved to a rearing tank. Warmth, good light and conditioning with live foods encourage spawning.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMelanotaenia praecox\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDwarf Neon Rainbowfish (Praecox)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMamberamo river system, West Papua, New Guinea\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 6–8 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (active schooling)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore: flake, small pellet, frozen and live foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeutral to moderately hard, around 5–15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eActive planted community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other rainbowfish, larger tetras, rasboras, danios, peaceful barbs, corydoras and other calm, active community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with very shy or slow fish that dislike constant movement, aggressive fin-nippers, and large predators big enough to eat a small rainbowfish.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232828801315,"sku":"AA1517","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232828834083,"sku":"BA8760","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/praecox-rainbowfish-10266497024291-sa.webp?v=1790318148","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/praecox-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-praecox","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}