Black-banded rainbowfish
Melanotaenia nigrans
- Adult size
- 6 cm2 in
- Group
- 6+
- Tank length
- 36 cm14 in
- Lifespan
- 5–8 yrs
- Temperature
- 19–35 °C66–95 °F
- pH
- 5–8.1
- Hardness
- 5–15 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
Comes from soft, slightly acidic streams; keep it in a group with calm tankmates and avoid hard alkaline water.Comes from soft, slightly acidic streams; keep it in a group with calm tankmates and avoid hard alkaline water.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Black banded rainbowfishAfrican knifefish may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- African pike
African pike may eat Black banded rainbowfishAfrican pike may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Black banded rainbowfishAlligator gar may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Black banded rainbowfishAntenna ray may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Black banded rainbowfishArapaima may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Black banded rainbowfishAsian arowana may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- Asian upside-down catfish
Asian upside down catfish may eat Black banded rainbowfishAsian upside down catfish may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Black banded rainbowfishAustralian pearl arowana may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- Barred bichir
Barred bichir may eat Black banded rainbowfishBarred bichir may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- Black bullhead
Black bullhead may eat Black banded rainbowfishBlack bullhead may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- Black diamond cichlid
Black diamond cichlid may eat Black banded rainbowfishBlack diamond cichlid may eat Black banded rainbowfish
- Brown bullhead
Brown bullhead may eat Black banded rainbowfishBrown bullhead may eat Black banded rainbowfish
Sources
| temperature | 19–35 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 5–8.1 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low |
| gh | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Northern Australia (Top End and Cape York) | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Comes from soft, slightly acidic streams; keep it in a group with calm tankmates | 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 | #C8C8B8, #2A2A2A, #D94A3A | 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 |