Mountain rainbowfish
Melanotaenia monticola
- Adult size
- 7 cm3 in
- Group
- 6+
- Tank length
- 42 cm17 in
- Lifespan
- 5–8 yrs
- Temperature
- 18–28 °C64–82 °F
- pH
- 6.5–7.6
- Hardness
- 5–15 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
A highland species that prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water; avoid pairing it with tropical fish needing high heat.A highland species that prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water; avoid pairing it with tropical fish needing high heat.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African pike
African pike may eat Mountain rainbowfishAfrican pike may eat Mountain rainbowfish
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Mountain rainbowfishAlligator gar may eat Mountain rainbowfish
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Mountain rainbowfishAntenna ray may eat Mountain rainbowfish
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Mountain rainbowfishArapaima may eat Mountain rainbowfish
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Mountain rainbowfishAsian arowana may eat Mountain rainbowfish
- Atahualpa dwarf cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Mountain rainbowfishAustralian pearl arowana may eat Mountain rainbowfish
- Barred bichir
Barred bichir may eat Mountain rainbowfishBarred bichir may eat Mountain rainbowfish
- Black bullhead
Black bullhead may eat Mountain rainbowfishBlack bullhead may eat Mountain rainbowfish
- Black diamond cichlid
Black diamond cichlid may eat Mountain rainbowfishBlack diamond cichlid may eat Mountain rainbowfish
- Brown bullhead
Brown bullhead may eat Mountain rainbowfishBrown bullhead may eat Mountain rainbowfish
- Bullseye snakehead
Bullseye snakehead may eat Mountain rainbowfishBullseye snakehead may eat Mountain rainbowfish
Sources
| temperature | 18–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6.5–7.6 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Highland streams of Papua New Guinea | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | A highland species that prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water; avoid pairing it | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #B0C0B8, #D9784A | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 5–8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.012,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | rainbow | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |