Data sheet filigree rainbow fish
German name:
Filigree Rainbow Fish
Scientific name:
Iriatherina werneri
Origin:
northern Australia and central and southern New Guinea
Size:
Body length 4cm – 5cm
Aquarium
Length:
Length from 60 cm width
Contents:
from 55 liters
water values
Temperature:
24°-27° C
pH:
6 – 7
GH:
less than 10° dH
Behave
Area:
middle area
Lining:
Live food (e.g. insect larvae), Cyclops, flake food
Behave:
peaceful, shy, fearful
Number:
in the group, at least 6 animals (2 males and 4 to 5 females)
Difficulty level:
advanced
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Gianmaria Visconti, Iriatherina Werneri-Yellow Finned Male, CC BY-SA 2.5
Keeping conditions for filigree rainbowfish
iatherina werneri male Source: Picture on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 2.5 Author: Gianmaria Viscont
Filigree rainbowfish, Iratherina werneri, will also Butterfly Rainbow Fish called. As group animals, they should be kept in a small flock of at least 6 animals. They prefer to stay in the middle and upper water layers. They are relatively shy. Iratherina werneri are about 2 years old.
They should be kept in a species tank or only socialized with very small fish. Dwarf rasbora, Pseudomugil gertrudae and dwarf armored catfish are suitable. Companion fish should have similar requirements, especially when it comes to feeding.
I. werneri is actually always neglected among the usual companion fish. Even if the companion fish are small, such as tetras, etc. When socializing with lively fish, the timid I. werneri are neglected and quickly take care of them. The other fish would snatch all the food from under their noses before the I. werneri even examined the food.
Iratherina werneri are among the few rainbowfish that prefer soft water. Depending on the location of the pools and ponds, the water in the area where the find was found is more or less brackish or completely sweet. Sometimes they also occur in extremely acidic water, e.g. B. at a pH of 3.9. So overall they are quite adaptable. However, they are sensitive to sudden changes. It is not necessary to add salt to the aquarium water.
Suitable water values:
- Conductance: 400
- CH: 6 to 7
- GH: 6 to 10
- pH: 7.2
- Temperature: 26 to 28°C
- CO’_2_’: 5 to 10 mg/l
Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 2.5 Author: Gianmaria Visconti
In an aquarium 60 centimeters long, three pairs of I. werneri can be kept together with 5 Corydoras panda or a few Corydoras pygmaeus. I. werneri are very fast swimmers, so a 40 cm tank is too small. The males in particular flap around the females very intensively during courtship and spread their long fins strongly. 60 centimetres, i.e. 54 liters, are the minimum for I. werneri.
Cryptocorynes, lots of java moss and an Echinodorus schlüteri in the middle of the tank are suitable for planting.
The substrate can consist of sand.
A 15 watt fluorescent tube can be used for lighting. The filter should only produce a small flow, no waves. Depending on the filter, a coarse foam cube is attached to the intake basket so that young fish are not sucked in. Foam internal filters or mat filters with air lift are ideal.
Clean water is very important. The organic load may only be low. The nitrate level must be low. Copious water changes are necessary. Stronger changes in temperature, pH value and water hardness should be avoided.
Food for Filigree Rainbow Fish
Filigree rainbow fish only have a very small mouth or throat. So they can only take in very fine feed.
Suitable feed:
Live food of this size is most suitable. Frozen food is also taken after getting used to it.
Problems purchasing Filigree Rainbow Fish
Animals on the market are often of poor quality and some are already emaciated. The necessary fine feed is not always fed commercially.
Such animals should in no case be bought. The chances of healthy animals being bred privately are better.
Filigree rainbowfish are very sensitive to transport. They must be inserted into the aquarium as carefully as possible. The water adaptation must take at least 1 to 2 hours.
The bucket method is suitable. The fish are placed in a bucket with the merchant water. With a thin hose, aquarium water slowly drips in over several hours. The bucket is well darkened. Otherwise the fish will be under too much stress. A sudden change in water parameters, ie hardness, pH and temperature, must be avoided at all costs. They don’t tolerate change at all.
The gender differences
The sexes are very easy to distinguish even in adolescent animals. Females have no color in the dorsal and anal fins. The fins are completely transparent). All other animals are males. In the trade are almost exclusively males.
Notes on Breeding
Rainbow fish spawn are crystal clear and almost impossible to see. You may be able to see the spawn if you look at the spawning substrate in the side light. If the eggs are already partially developed, ie the black eyes can already be seen in the egg, you can see the spawn better.
The spawning of rainbow fish is best found by feeling the spawning substrate, mostly java moss or similar fine-feathered plants, fiber by fiber with your fingers. The spawning grains are relatively hard. The eggs can also be easily collected with the fingers.
You can also place some of the plants from the breeding tank in an empty tank or in a larger bowl of tank water. Young animals often appear after a few days, although no eggs could be seen.
The juveniles are tiny. The first feed must therefore be dusty and float on the surface.
Filigree rainbowfish and Melanotaenia praecox :
Courtship and Mating in Filigree Rainbowfish:
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