Red Rainbow Fish Glossolepis Incisus 5cm

Overview

The Red Rainbowfish is a large, deep-bodied shoaler whose mature males turn a dazzling salmon to burgundy red, while females stay olive-silver. It comes only from Lake Sentani in northern Papua and is listed as vulnerable. It suits big, well-planted community tanks with room to swim.

• Adult Size: Around 12–15 cm (5–6 in); males much deeper bodied
• Lifespan: 6–8 years

Origin

• Native to: Lake Sentani, near Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia
• Habitat: Heavily vegetated lake shallows and overhanging shoreline vegetation

Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous
• Preferred Foods: Flake, granules, brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworm, spirulina flake
• Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily; frozen and live foods deepen the red

Tank Mates

• Best with: Groups of 6 or more, other large rainbowfish, barbs, larger tetras, Corydoras
• Avoid: Tiny, slow or timid fish unsettled by their speed

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Peaceful but skittish and fast
• Territoriality: Low; dominant male displays without real aggression

Experience Level

• Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
• Challenges: Needs a long tank, hard alkaline water and a group

Water Parameters

• Water Type: Freshwater, moderately hard and alkaline
• Temperature: 22–26°C (72–79°F)
• pH: 7.0–8.0
• Hardness: 10–20 dGH
• Flow: Moderate
• Tank Size: Minimum 200 litres; 120 cm tank or longer for a shoal

Final Notes

Juveniles look plain silver and are easily overlooked; colour develops over a year or more, and warmer water pushes males towards burgundy. Despite their bulk their throats are narrow, so small tank mates are safe. They will not thrive in soft, acidic water. Egg scatterers, they spawn over weeks among plants or mops with eggs hatching in about a week. Given space, a mature shoal is spectacular.