Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia praecox

A vivid blue-and-red rainbowfish that stays small. Active open-water swimmer — needs a longer tank and a shoal of at least 8.

Care Parameters

Adult size

8 cm

Min tank

55 L

Temperature

23–28°C

6.8–7.5

5–15 dGH

Diet

Omnivore

Temperament

Peaceful

Water zone

Top

Difficulty

Beginner

Schooling

School of at least 8.

Suitable Plants

Java Fern

Care profile for Java Fern: low light, none CO₂, beginner difficulty.

Bacopa caroliniana

A hardy, straightforward stem plant with thick, oval leaves on upright stems. One of the easiest background plants, tolerating a wide range of conditions and requiring minimal maintenance.

Dwarf Hairgrass

Care profile for Dwarf Hairgrass: medium-high light, medium CO₂, intermediate difficulty.

Christmas Moss

A popular aquarium moss with branching fronds that resemble a Christmas tree shape. Attaches easily to hardscape and creates dense, attractive green coverage.

Peacock Moss

A delicate aquarium moss with fine, feathery fronds that create a soft, flowing carpet. Attaches easily to hardscape and tolerates a wide range of conditions.

Compatible Invertebrates

Assassin Snail

The striped predator of the aquarium world, kept to hunt down pest snails and worms. It burrows by day and hunts by night, and will happily share a tank with fish and plants - it ignores shrimp and fish entirely. Also known as Clea helena; both names are accepted.

Snowball Shrimp

A selectively bred freshwater shrimp with opaque white coloration resembling snowballs. Requires soft, acidic water and pristine conditions for breeding.

King Kong Shrimp

A solid black color morph of Caridina cantonensis with minimal white markings. One of the rarest and most expensive shrimp variants. Requires expert-level water parameters.

Nerite Snail

The best algae-eating snail for aquariums. Cannot reproduce in freshwater, so populations stay stable. Comes in zebra, tiger, and olive patterns. Will lay white eggs on glass.