Pygmy rainbowfish
Melanotaenia pygmaea
- Tank length
- 75 cm30 in
- Group
- 6+
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C75–86 °F
- pH
- 7.2–7.6
- Adult size
- 5 cm2 in
- Lifespan
- 5–8 yrs
One of the smallest rainbows; good for 75 cm tanks but rarely available, so check that stock is true to species.One of the smallest rainbows; good for 30 in tanks but rarely available, so check that stock is true to species.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
None recorded.
Avoid with
- Black kuhli loach
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Brilliant rasbora
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Emerald eye rasbora
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Lambchop rasboraNo shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Melon barb
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Panda garra
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Ticto barb
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Pygmy rainbowfishAfrican knifefish may eat Pygmy rainbowfish
- African pike
African pike may eat Pygmy rainbowfishAfrican pike may eat Pygmy rainbowfish
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Pygmy rainbowfishAlligator gar may eat Pygmy rainbowfish
- Altum angelfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 24–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.2–7.6 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Prince Regent River area, Kimberley, Western Australia | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 5–8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 75 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |