Maylandi Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia maylandi is a seldom-encountered species from the Strickland River drainage of Papua New Guinea and is considered one of the more prized finds for rainbowfish collectors. Dominant males are strikingly beautiful, developing a deep cobalt-blue to blue-violet body colour that contrasts sharply with the red-orange to scarlet finnage. The species has a moderately deep body compared to some congeners and a particularly vivid mid-lateral iridescent band.

Because it is rarely exported and not widely bred in captivity, specimens are typically available only through specialist importers or dedicated hobbyist breeders. The care requirements are standard for a New Guinean rainbowfish — clean, moderately hard, slightly alkaline water with good oxygenation and a brisk current. Water quality must be maintained at a high standard to preserve the intense colouration.

Melanotaenia maylandi breeds in the typical rainbowfish fashion and is not particularly difficult to spawn once in peak condition. Conditioning both sexes separately on a diet heavy in live and frozen foods before introducing them together in a well-planted spawning tank tends to produce the best results.

Water: pH 7.0–8.0, temperature 23–28°C, moderately hard; high water quality essential for maintaining colour. Tank: Minimum 150 L; well-planted with dense background vegetation and open mid-tank swimming space. Feeding: Quality flake and pellets; heavy supplementation with live daphnia, brine shrimp, and mosquito larvae. Breeding: Free egg scatterer on fine plants or mops; condition separately before pairing; remove eggs for best yields. Compatibility: Peaceful with other medium-sized rainbowfish and community species; avoid fin-nippers.