Dwarf neon rainbowfish
Melanotaenia praecox
Photo: 7TP (Krzysztof Bartosik) · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adult size
- 6 cm2 in
- Group
- 6+
- Tank length
- 80 cm31 in
- Lifespan
- 3–6 yrs
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C73–82 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 5–15 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
Keep a lively group with room to turn and cruise.Keep a lively group with room to turn and cruise.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishAfrican knifefish may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- African pike
African pike may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishAfrican pike may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishAlligator gar may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishAntenna ray may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishArapaima may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishAsian arowana may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Asian upside-down catfish
Asian upside down catfish may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishAsian upside down catfish may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishAustralian pearl arowana may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Barred bichir
Barred bichir may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishBarred bichir may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Black bullhead
Black bullhead may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishBlack bullhead may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Black diamond cichlid
Black diamond cichlid may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishBlack diamond cichlid may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
- Brown bullhead
Brown bullhead may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfishBrown bullhead may eat Dwarf neon rainbowfish
Sources
| temperature | 23–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | New Guinea and nearby regions | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Keep a lively group with room to turn and cruise. | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #9EAA99, #465858 | 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 | 3–6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.006,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 80 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | rainbow | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |