Chilatherina alleni

A dark lateral stripe above a pale or orange-yellow band; colour varies with locality.

Adult length: Up to 6.6 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)

Natural habitat: Native to waters of Indonesian New Guinea.

Keep at 22–25°C, pH 6.5–7.5 and KH 4–12 dKH. Fry can survive with parents when density is low and older fry are present, but eggs and fry are not guaranteed safe.

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Appearance and identification

Mature males are generally deeper-bodied; females have paler fins. Compared with fasciata it has a shorter blunt snout and a maxilla ending near the front of the eye. Anal-ray counts overlap with pricei, so no single count identifies it.

Same-species behaviour

Keep six or more.

Space requirements

A 100 cm species tank suits a group of six or more, which needs more than 30 gallons.

Diet and feeding

Offer suitably sized flakes or micro pellets with live or frozen foods such as Artemia and Daphnia.

Aquarium environment

Planting is recommended; juvenile shrimp may be eaten.

Sources