Melanotaenia picta

The rainbowfish formerly sold as Aru II develops stronger colour as it matures.

The rainbowfish formerly sold as Aru II develops stronger colour as it matures. It is hard to distinguish visually from kolaensis, senckenbergianus and wokamensis in the same group; provenance matters more than vivid trade coloration.

Adult length

Up to 9.3 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)

Natural habitat

Inhabits clear rainforest brooks with quiet pools and cascades over smooth limestone, using submerged logs for cover.

Hard to distinguish visually from several Aru relatives. Breed stocks separately. Water should not be overly soft.