Lake Kurumoi / Sunset Dwarf Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia parva) 4cm

Common names: Lake Kurumoi Rainbowfish, Sunset Dwarf Rainbowfish
Origin: Endemic to Lake Kurumoi, Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia
Temperament: Peaceful, active shoaling fish
Adult size: Typically 8 cm, though some sources note up to ~12 cm in exceptional cases [

Appearance

• Males show bright lilac/blue or silvery bodies, often with a black mid-lateral stripe and red fins.
• Females are smaller and more subdued in colour.
• Males may develop a slightly elongated first dorsal ray. 

Aquarium Requirements

Tank Size

• Recommended: Spacious planted aquarium, minimum 75–120 litres for a proper shoal.
• Active swimmers → more space = better. 

Group Size

• Keep 6 or more — they are strongly shoaling and colour up best in groups. 

Tank Setup

• Dense plants, especially along edges (simulating vegetated lake margins).
• Sandy or fine substrate.
• Moderate to low current (they are lake, not river, rainbowfish).
• Floating plants help reduce harsh lighting. 

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 24–28°C (natural habitat 23–27°C)
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• Hardness: 12–16 dH 

Diet

Omnivorous and not picky.

• High-quality flakes & micro‑pellets
• Frozen foods: brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae
• Will take most standard community foods 

Behaviour & Compatibility

• Peaceful community fish
• Narrow mouth → safe with small tankmates
• Avoid long‑finned fish (possible fin nipping) 

Breeding

• Spawns like other Melanotaenia species.
• Uses plants or spawning mops; scatter spawner and continual spawner over many days.
• Parents may eat eggs → remove mops after spawning.
• Fry require very fine foods