Melanotaenia fredericki

Melanotaenia fredericki - photo© Neil Armstrong

(Fowler, 1939)
Sorong Rainbowfish

Species Summary
The basic body colour of Melanotaenia fredericki is mauve with blue reflective scales above the midlateral band. They have broad yellow shading immediately below the midlateral band on the middle of the body (most prominent in juveniles). Mature fish sometimes show the yellow colouration only on the scale edges. The fins are mainly translucent, but the dorsal, anal and caudal may have a hint of yellow or red. Males may reach a maximum size of 12 cm, but females usually less than 10 cm. Males are more brightly coloured, larger, and deeper bodied than females.

Distribution & Habitat
Melanotaenia fredericki is currently found only in a few small creeks in the vicinity of Sorong at the western end of the Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua. It is also known from the Sampson River drainage in the north of Sorong. They have been collected from clear slow flowing streams in closed canopy rainforest - pH 6.5~7.5; Temperature 24~28°C. Usually found around sub-surface vegetation, submerged logs, or branches.

Melanotaenia fredericki [Juvenile] - photo© Neil Armstrong

Remarks
A number of live specimens were collected by Heiko Bleher in 1992 and distributed in the international aquarium hobby.

Literature
Allen, G.R. (1991) Field guide to the freshwater fishes of New Guinea. Christensen Research Institute, Madang, Papua New Guinea.

Fowler, H. W. (1939) Zoological results of the Denison-Crockett South Pacific Expedition for the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1937-1938. Part III.--The fishes.