{"product_id":"kali-tawa-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-sp","title":"Kali Tawa Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia sp.)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"content\" aria-description=\"\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ac-container ac-adaptiveCard\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ac-textBlock\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKali Tawa Rainbowfish\u003c\/strong\u003e is a rare, undescribed species of rainbowfish highly prized in the aquarium hobby for its refined body shape and striking red tail contrasted against shimmering blue‑silver flanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTaxonomy \u0026amp; Status\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenus:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eMelanotaenia\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies:\u003c\/strong\u003e Undescribed (referred to by collection locality)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kali Tawa Rainbowfish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e Natural Origin\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLocation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Papua (West Papua, Indonesia \/ New Guinea region)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabitat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clear, slow‑moving forest streams and tributaries (“kali” means \u003cem\u003estream\u003c\/em\u003e), especially areas with submerged roots and bank‑side debris \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDistribution:\u003c\/strong\u003e Extremely localized, contributing to its rarity in the wild \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdult size:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~6–7 cm (2.5–3 inches)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColoration:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMales develop vivid \u003cstrong\u003ered tail fins\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIridescent blue, silver, and subtle gold body tones\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColor intensifies with maturity, diet, and group dynamics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSexual dimorphism:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMales larger, deeper‑bodied, and more colorful\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFemales slimmer and paler \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAquarium Care Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Easy to moderate (excellent for rainbowfish keepers)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eTank Requirements\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum tank size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30 gallons (larger preferred for schools)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest kept in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Groups of \u003cstrong\u003e6+\u003c\/strong\u003e to reduce stress and improve color \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAquascape:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen swimming space in the center\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlants, wood, or root‑like décor along sides and back\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFloating plants helpful to diffuse strong lighting \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWater Parameters\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003epH:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.5–8.0\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soft to moderately hard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater quality:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clean, well‑oxygenated, with gentle current \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e Diet\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Omnivore\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoods accepted:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh‑quality flakes or micro‑pellets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrozen foods (daphnia, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLive foods boost coloration and conditioning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e Behavior \u0026amp; Compatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeaceful, active mid‑water swimmer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent \u003cstrong\u003ecommunity fish\u003c\/strong\u003e with similarly sized, non‑aggressive species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDoes not damage plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJuveniles are often understated—patience is rewarded as they mature \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e Breeding Notes (Advanced)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpawning type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Continuous egg scatterer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMethod:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse spawning mops or fine‑leaved plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEggs laid over days or weeks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdults may eat eggs unless well fed or separated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFry are tiny and require very fine initial foods \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e Why It’s Special\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConsidered a \u003cstrong\u003e“holy grail” rainbowfish\u003c\/strong\u003e among enthusiasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRare in nature, but increasingly available \u003cstrong\u003etank‑bred\u003c\/strong\u003e, helping protect wild populations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubtle beauty that evolves dramatically over time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ac-horizontal-separator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ad-container\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Colin Campbell (local breeder)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49045127332158,"sku":"28213717332158","price":59.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0837\/5104\/3390\/files\/2_Kali_Tawa_Rainbowfish.jpg?v=1730075201","url":"https:\/\/yourlocalfishstore.com\/products\/kali-tawa-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-sp","provider":"Your Local Fish Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}