Parkinson's Rainbowfish

About

Parkinson's Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia parkinsoni) comes from a fairly narrow stretch of territory in southeastern Papua New Guinea, where it lives in lowland rainforest streams between the Kemp Welsh River and Milne Bay. Like many rainbowfish, it takes its time developing full adult coloration. Younger fish can look surprisingly plain, which sometimes catches new keepers off guard. Give it time, though, and males in particular develop rich, warm tones that make the wait worthwhile. Females tend to be more subdued, as is typical across the rainbowfish family. This is an active, open-water swimmer that does best in a spacious setup with plenty of horizontal room to move. A school of six or more will show much more natural behavior than a lone individual or small group, and keeping multiple males together can encourage them to display more intensely for the females. Tankmates should be similarly sized and not prone to nipping, since those flowing fins can attract unwanted attention. The care level sits at intermediate. Not because the fish is particularly fragile, but because it benefits from stable, warm water conditions and a keeper who understands the importance of a proper school. A solid choice for anyone ready to move beyond the beginner staples.