Melanotaenia duboulayi
Melanotaenia duboulayi is a popular aquarium fish with very varied colouration depending on the habitat. This fish is endemic to the freshwater waters of eastern Australia, from the Mary River, Queensland, to the McLay River, New South Wales. The fish can be found in rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and reservoirs near sandy shores.
The body of Melanotaenia duboulayi is olive-brown in colour, silvery to greenish-blue on the sides, white underneath, turning yellowish-orange towards the rear of the body. Flanks with darkish middle stripe and thin reddish stripes.
Gill cover with a reddish spot. Adult males have a slimmer body and brighter coloration than females, especially during the spawning period. They have red spots on the caudal, dorsal and anal fins, and during the spawning period they have dark fin trim on their fins. The maximum size of the fish is 11 cm.
Melanotaenia duboulayi fish are peaceful. Keep in the aquarium data fish is recommended in a small flock of 6-8 individuals. Not desirable to contain these fish together with other varieties of irises, as a very high probability of interbreeding. The fish spend most of their time in the middle layer of the aquarium. Can be kept in a common aquarium with other peace-loving fish, the exception is the long finned fish, which Melanotenia dubulai can nibble the tails.
Fish can be kept in an aquarium of 80 liters and larger. We recommend using gravel as substrate. At the bottom of the aquarium large snags should be placed, and around the perimeter of the aquarium to plant a variety of plants, including floating on the water surface.
Water parameters: temperature 16-28° C, hardness dH 5-10°, acidity pH 5,4-7,8. Need aeration, filtration and weekly replacement of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh. The aquarium must have a cover, otherwise the fish at the slightest scare can easily jump out of it.
Melanotaenia duboulayi in nature feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects, algae, charaphytes, macrophytes, micro- and macrocrustaceans, fish eggs, terrestrial vegetation and mollusks. In an aquarium, fish are fed with artemia, chaff, dry flakes and pelleted food.
Reproduction
Melanotaenia duboulayi reaches its sexual maturity at the age of 10-12 months.
Spawning takes place from late winter to summer with maximum activity in spring and summer. The female spawns in a thicket within 10 cm of the water surface. The eggs are large and sticky, about 0.9-1.4 mm in diameter. The eggs incubate for 5-10 days.
The hatched larvae measure about 3.7-4.2 mm and immediately float to the water surface. The fry are fed with infusoria and, later, with artemia 3-4 times a day.
The lifespan of Melanotaenia duboulayi in the wild is about 3-4 years.
