Black-banded rainbowfish

The Black Ribbon Rainbow Fish ( Melanotaenia nigricans ) is a freshwater fish of the family of rainbow fish. He lives in northern Australian streams. Melanotaenia nigrans is the type species of the genus Melanotaenia.

Features

The Black Ribbon Rainbow fish is a relatively small rainbow fish, which in contrast to other species of this family in old age maintains its slim and elongated body shape. The females act through their narrow caudal peduncle and the smaller unpaired fins even slimmer than the males. The males can reach a length of up to 9 cm, the female is 6 inches tall. Life expectancy ( in the aquarium ) is about five years.

The back and abdominal area are bluish iridescent. From the mouth to the tail fin into it draws a black colored wide ribbon from which the fish got its German name. However, the black belt is not the sole indicator of this kind, but also occurs in some other species of the genus Melanotaenia, but have a significantly higher back shape. The unpaired fins of the male abdomen and back to shimmer striking blue, at the back end they run into each a tip. The fins of the females are less conspicuous and rounded at the rear end. The coloration of M. nigricans is slightly different depending on the local area of ​​origin.

Dissemination

The Black Ribbon Rainbow fish is native to the northern territories of Australia. He is called in the language of the aborigines " Yalgunda ". How many rainbow fish, it occurs in coastal rivers and streams, in some cases even in brackish water. The range extends into northern Australia from the Daly River to Arnhem Land. Also on the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula and in small tributaries of the Jardine River, the species is found. It is believed that the fish is native in southern Papua New Guinea, but could not be clearly confirmed this occurrence.

Hunting and

Like all Rainbow Fish and the Black Ribbon Rainbow fish is kept as ornamental fish in freshwater aquariums. In the trade, other species such as Melanotaenia australis, Melanotaenia fluviatilis or Melanotaenia duboulayi are often mistakenly offered as Melanotaenia nigrans. The real M. nigricans was imported for the aquarium first in 1976 to Europe.

The water temperatures are in its relatively large distribution area from 20 to 35 ° C., the pH is in these waters 5 to 8, it can be kept well in water temperatures between 18 and 24 ° C in the aquarium, for breeding is the upper temperature range necessary.

Swell

• Henry Winner: Rainbow fish. The genus Melanotaenia. Nature and animal -Verlag, 2010, ISBN 978-3-86659-154-7
• Peter Schubert: Rainbow fish. Urania, Freiburg, 1991 ISBN 3332004697