Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Rainbowfish > Celebes Rainbowfish

Celebes Rainbowfish

Celebes Sailfish ~ Celebes Sailfin Family: Telmatherinidae

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Marosatherina ladigesi Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Joe Perez

   The beautiful and delicate Celebes Rainbowfish has been an aquarium favorite since its introduction in the 1930’s!

   The Celebes Rainbowfish is a very beautiful fish with color combinations that are quite pleasing to the eye. Their mature fins are beautiful. Additional interest is found in the back half of the fish which is translucent enough for an organ sac to be visible. For these reasons this fish has remained an aquarium favorite since its introduction in the 1930’s.

   There is no getting around the fact that these fish are delicate. Celebes Rainbowfish are very sensitive to their surroundings and often die of common, otherwise curable diseases. Even advanced aquarists can struggle to keep this fish healthy. Beginners interested in this fish should get some experience with easier fish before attempting to keep Celebes Rainbowfish. Also when purchasing, if possible wait a few days after new shipments arrive to reduce the chance of mortality from transport shock.

For more Information on keeping freshwater fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Dream Aquarium Build your own aquarium The Coolest and Funnest Screensaver in the World.

Distribution:
   The Celebes Rainbowfish was described by Ahl in 1936. It is found in both fresh and brackish water environments in Indonesia, specifically Sulawesi (formerly Celebes).

Status:
   The Celebes Rainbowfish is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: VU - vulnerable. Though described as vulnerable in their natural habitat, they are numerous in captivity.

Description:
   The Celebes Rainbowfish is a slender fish with very interesting fins. It has two dorsal fins, one that is small and black and the other that is larger and two-toned. Other fins are lemon yellow with black markings. The pectoral fin tips may have black or white tips or may be all the way translucent. Mature males have thread like extensions from their fins. Fin shape will vary, especially on males.
   The body color will appear different under different lighting, but is basically brownish yellow with green undertones. There is a neon stripe that runs along the backbone on the back half of the fish that reflects green and blue. The eyes are large. Towards the rear of the fish, scales become increasingly translucent, to the point where individual bones are visible.

Size - Weight:
  This fish will reach 2 or 3 inches (5-7.5cm) in length.

Care and feeding:
   Celebes Rainbowfish are omnivorous fish. They should be fed a balanced diet including live and processed foods to maintain good health. Buy processed food in small amounts frequently as nutrition in these products quickly deteriorates. Treat them to live foods like tubifex and blood worms or daphnia once a week. Their throats are fairly small so feed smaller foods.
   As with many fish, Rainbowfish will do best and are most effectively displayed in tanks which simulate their natural habitat. A few extra elements in planning the Celebes Rainbowfish tank will make these fish even more spectacular. A little sunlight hitting the tank will make their colors even more radiant, so position the tank that way if possible. A little salt in the water, about a half tsp per gallon helps out a lot. Add a few plants that provide dense cover if the fish should choose to retreat. Water Wisteria, Hornwort, and Java Moss are good options that will tolerate the salt and harder water the Celebes Rainbowfish likes.
   Although small they are very active, so need at least 15 gallons or more to swim in. The tank must be very tightly covered to prevent jumps. These fish are sensitive to their water, so the aquarist must be on top of maintenance with a constant regimen of 25-50% weekly water changes being a must.
   The Celebes Rainbowfish should never be housed in a tank with fin nippers. Because the fins are so intricate and can be different on each individual, it is often difficult to tell when a fin has been damaged or not. As males mature, fins may divide and change length naturally. This may be tricky to distinguish from splits as a result of injury or disease. Rounded edges to the splits are a good clue not to be alarmed. The intricate fins also mean that they are extra susceptible to certain diseases like fin rot, and these may come without warning, so it is best to always have appropriate medications on hand.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   The Celebes Rainbow will mostly inhabit the middle of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Temperature: 72-82° F (22-28° C)
   Hardness: 10 - 20 dGH
   Ph: 7.0 - 8.0

Social Behaviors:
   The Celebes Rainbowfish will be quite timid for a few days after their introduction. They aren’t schooling fish but still do best in groups of three or more. They have a good temperament. They are very active but not aggressive and should never be housed in a tank with fin nippers.

Sexual Differences:
   As juveniles they are difficult to sex, but as they get older males will develop long filament extensions off the fins. The male coloration is also slightly stronger.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Celebes Rainbowfish is not too difficult to breed. A separate breeding tank should be prepared with plenty of fine leaved plants to catch the eggs. Some good ones to try are Cabomba, Mifoil, and Riccia or Java Moss. Some aquarists have trouble getting them to spawn, but slightly cooler temperatures may do the trick. A spawning mop can be used in place of the plants. The parents will distribute the eggs and they will hatch in about a week. Parents should be removed before the eggs hatch, although the eggs are large the fry are small. Once hatched, feed them commercially prepared fry foods. Do not introduce the young fish into the main tank until they are safely large enough not to be eaten. This could be as long as 5 months.

Buy Celebes Rainbowfish From LiveAquaria.com

See an overview of how to breed Rainbowfish in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:
   The Celebes Rainbowfish is readily available, however cost is often quite high, easily $5.00 - $15.00 USD apiece.

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Latest Comments
I like these fish very much in my aquarium but, they died soon. shailendra 2008-08-30

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Author: "Yvonne"

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