Amazing Male Melanotaenia Praecox Display

[Danbarb]

I just added two male Melanotaenia Praecox (neon blue rainbowfish), to my tank to accompany a few females. my my. Amazing displays from the males! It's like a light turning on and off from their nose to their top fin, a bright yellow. They're fast becoming my favourite fish, just because of this!

I've never seen a fish flash colours before, I've seen my tiger barbs black stripes show a green shimmer when they're ready but this was amazing. Just wanted to say!

 

[drobbyb]

Yeah, nothing beats a displaying rainbow. You would think that the color change would be gradual, but in fact it is almost instant and intentional. It's very dramatic (romantic to fish maybe?)

 

[markandhisfish]

my haps do this too . its amazing to watch a fish literally transform in front of your eyes , just like flipping a switch isnt it .

 

[Mikaila31]

yep my boesemani can put on a good show sometimes!

 

[Danbarb]

I couldn't believe it, seriously it was one of the most amazing things I've seen! I didn't realise they could switch on their colours so instantaneously like that, I was almost cheering for that guy to win her over!

 

[drobbyb]

I was kinda freaked when I saw my female M. lacustris flash a breeding stripe. I never knew that they had the ability, but apparently they do.

 

[Danbarb]

Females can display too?! That would freak me out as well!

 

[juliedavis]

hi i was thinking of getting some of these, sounds like you'd reccomend them , how would they fare with tiger barbs?

 

[ian]

i always thought the male Melanotaenia Praecox were red finned, and the females had the yellow.

 

[drobbyb]

Yes, that's true, but they have groups of color changing cells that they can control. We call it a breeding stripe in the hobby.