Photo: Chrumps, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Red rainbowfish
Glossolepis incisus
12 cm
Adult size
250 L
Minimum volume
5
Minimum group
8 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Glossolepis
- Diet
- omnivore
- Social life
- shoal
In the wild
Overview
Described in 1907 by the Dutch zoologist Max Weber, the red rainbowfish (FishBase spells it Glossolepis incisa) is one of the largest rainbowfish, up to 15 cm. Only adult males take on this intense red colour, with a very high back; females stay golden olive.
The IUCN lists it as endangered: Lake Sentani suffers from the pollution of a growing city and the introduction of foreign species.
- Scientific name
- Glossolepis incisa Weber, 1907Current valid name; in the hobby: Glossolepis incisus
- Classification
- Atheriniformes › Melanotaeniidae
- IUCN Red List
- Endangered (EN)
Natural habitat
Endemic to Lake Sentani, near Jayapura (Papua, Indonesia)
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It is endemic to Lake Sentani, a hill lake at about 75 m above sea level in northern New Guinea, connected to the sea by a small river.
Shoals stay near areas of dense vegetation. The water is hard and alkaline, warm at the surface (around 29 °C according to measurements), but the species adapts to 24–28 °C in the aquarium.
Behaviour
Very peaceful but fast, it can disturb slow fish. Timid, it feels better in a shoal of at least 6 to 8; the males then show their finest colours.
An undemanding omnivore, it accepts dry, frozen and live food. It breeds fairly easily: the eggs are laid among fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop, in slightly hard, alkaline water.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth