🐟TankstockerFreshwater Stocking & Compatibility

🐟 Turquoise Rainbowfish Melanotaenia lacustris

Turquoise Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lacustris) — male
Male
Turquoise Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lacustris) — female
Female

The Turquoise Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia lacustris) is a easy-care, peaceful species from Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea. Adults reach roughly 4.5", so plan on a minimum tank of 55 gallons. Keep the water between 75–82°F with a pH of 7–8.5. This is a schooling fish — keep a group of at least 6 so it feels secure and colors up. As an omnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Adult size4.5"
Minimum tank55 gallons
Temperature75–82°F
pH7–8.5
TemperamentPeaceful
SchoolingYes — group of 6+
DietOmnivore
Care levelEasy
OriginLake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea
Shop 55-gallon setupsFilterWater test kit

Good tankmates for Turquoise Rainbowfish

Rummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraGuppyPlatyMollySwordtailDiscusGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraCherry BarbTiger BarbRosy BarbDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBronze CoryPanda CoryBristlenose PlecoKuhli LoachClown LoachPictus CatfishAmano ShrimpMystery SnailLemon TetraCongo TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGiant DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbDenison BarbCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbBoesemani RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishMadagascar RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishHoney GouramiMoonlight GouramiKeyhole CichlidFiremouth CichlidSeverumElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraRainbow CichlidYellow Lab CichlidAcei CichlidPeacock CichlidMultifasciatusJulidochromisSterbai CoryJulii CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishYoyo LoachZebra LoachDojo LoachHillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoClown PlecoSiamese Algae EaterRainbow SharkFlying FoxAfrican Butterfly FishGolden Wonder KillifishBamboo ShrimpRabbit SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraSilver DollarLeopard DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbRed RainbowfishSnakeskin GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiPeaceful BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraGold SeverumChocolate CichlidFestivum CichlidYellow Dwarf CichlidElectric Yellow CichlidBrichardiShell-DwellerEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryStriped Raphael CatfishDwarf Chain LoachWeather LoachHorseface LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Gold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishRed SwordtailHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollySailfin MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

Avoid these tankmates

OscarWhite Cloud MinnowCherry ShrimpJack DempseyTexas CichlidFrontosaChinese Algae EaterBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowBanjar Red CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond Shrimp

See the full tankmate guide for Turquoise Rainbowfish →