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The first rainbow fish, which used to belong to the family Aterinid (Atherinidae), appeared in this country in the mid-fifties. In 1964 it was shown that rainbow fish are not to aterinidam and represent a separate family from the study of Jan Munroe - Melanotaeniidae, numbering 6 genera (Melanotaenia, Cairnsichthys, Chilatherina, Glossolepis, Iriatherina and Rhadinocentrus). Subsequently, as a result of the audit D. Rosen (Rosen DE) has been allocated a separate family Melanotenievyh (Melanotaeniidae), or Donaciinae inhabiting ponds Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Donaciinae peaceful and ideal for general aquarium with not very aggressive neighbors such as Malawi and Tanganyika cichlids are medium in size. It is better to keep them in flocks of 10 - 15 copies. Prefer rigid or medium hard water with slightly alkaline active reaction (pH 7.5 - 8.5) and a temperature of 23 - 25 degrees C was well tolerated brackish water, so necessary for the inhabitants of the mangroves and other habitats polugalinnyh.
Passion for "natural" aquarium, developed by Japanese aquarist Takashi Amano -dizaynerom, affected the popularity of rainbow fish that are suitable for this purpose in all respects - peaceful, not gnaw and dig water plants, are gregarious. Furthermore, these fish are set in the coloring of color combinations, including both bright and pastel colors. Donaciinae beautifully with fish-cleaners, for example, or epaltseorinhami ototsinklyusami.
It should, however, be noted that large and glossolepisy Donaciinae specific regard to design aquariums T. Amano shrimp, algae eaters (Caridina japonica) as a food item. Therefore, these invertebrates can be planted only with small fish, for example iriaterinami.
Under natural conditions Donaciinae often live in small rivers and streams with stone rifts, so the aquarium decoration rocky ridges looks quite natural. It is desirable with the help of a masked fieldstone pump to arrange at least a small movement of water.
For fans of the Dutch Aquarium Donaciinae also a real find - the moving and colorful fish give the necessary dynamism picture underwater beds, created by human hands.
There are many ways to prepare Donaciinae to spawn, but the basis for all one. Consider the classic breeding method described over 40 years ago in relation to the rainbow fish (Melanotaenia macculloochi Ogiley, 1915), one of the most experienced aquarists Moscow G. Kretova in the book "Aquarium, Collection of articles number 1", Moscow, 1958.
For successful breeding of the fish tank should have a capacity of 10 - 12 liters. It is filled with old supernatant water temperature 24 - 25 degrees C, well-illuminated and are planting cabomba, preamble, or peristolistnikom fontinalis moss. Before spawning manufacturers better on 5 - 6 days, sit in different containers, and the female for the fastest typesetting calves to keep at a temperature of 18 - 20 degrees C.
On spawn is better to plant one a female and two males, and if the reservoir capacity allows, several males and females. Care should be taken to all the selected fish were sexually mature - if they do not eat the eggs and fry.
With such preparation spawning occurs within hours. Males become wedding color, straighten fins and occupy free space plants. The female is located close to the plants, and it is to move as partners sharp movements driven her into the thick and tightly pressed against her abdomen hit the anal fin, beating by 3 - 4 eggs that stick to the plants. The female is able to give a daily 15 - 20 eggs for 5 - 6 days. Then the number of eggs is reduced to 2 - 3 per day.
Caviar is transparent, the size of a grain of colza. When the first fry manufacturers should be removed: although they do not touch their offspring, but consume oxygen necessary for life and growth of fry.
The embryo develops 4 days, and 6 - 7 days fry already glide over the water's surface, and their number is increasing with each passing day. For the rapid growth of young fish must be kept in a tank at a temperature of 24 - 25 degrees C. During the first days they are fed ciliates, then you can give a small "living dust" and peretёrtuyu into powder dry daphnia.
Sexual maturity, they reach to 7 - 8 months.
It should be noted that the above-described classical rainbow fish - melanoteniya Makkullocha grows in the aquarium under a third more than the largest specimen caught in the wild. This suggests that the fish in captivity feel not bad. This phenomenon is well familiar to fans of Malawi cichlids - their pets often almost twice as large as the size of their wild relatives.
With modern products for successful breeding Donaciinae I recommend to replace the live aquatic plants thick synthetic yarns such as green plastic sponges - its simple and easy to wash and disinfect. For better egg development and hatching of fry in the water with a soft or medium hardness is desirable to add in spawning sea or ordinary table salt at the rate of 2 - 3 grams per liter.
You can feed the fry into powder rastёrtymi starter feed type "TetraMin" or "Neski Super Growth", carefully dusting powder surface water rearing aquarium. The fry are most readily take food from the surface and in the water column, so the bottom of the aquarium should be periodically thoroughly cleaned from the remnants of uneaten food in order to avoid water pollution.
Be sure to take into account the important fact for successful breeding of larvae Australian Donaciinae have a small yolk sac or do not have any. Therefore, in order to avoid exhaustion and related them to be fed as quickly as possible problems in order to increase the survival of fry. Make it easy. Just put on a water surface floating plants - Ricci, Piste, fern tseratopteris etc. These thickets fry will always find something to make money in those first hours, until they are detected and do not get food.
Unfortunately, almost all the coloring fry melanotenievyh inconspicuous, and this limits their popularity and spread among fans as attractive rainbow colors seen with age and the older the fish, so they are more beautiful and brightly colored. But their cost rises repeatedly.
I would like to warn fans of uncontrolled crossing Donaciinae, since, firstly, experience shows that anything outstanding from this is impossible, and, secondly, as a result of cross-breeding lost the original genetic richness of nature that it would be necessary to preserve. To this end, in Australia, the UK, Germany and the United States set up and operate the international aquarium associations involved Donaciinae. These organizations have their own publications, carried out the study, dissemination and exchange melanotenievyh and hold exhibitions, symposia and meetings of various ranks.
In the recent past Ron Bowman of Melbourne has made a real revolution in the world of rainbow fish lovers. He has developed and tested a method of transporting the fertilized eggs Donaciinae and began to send it, just as it is done by amateurs ikromechuschie toothcarps. Obviously, in this case, inbreeding or not avoid inbreeding. Therefore, it is desirable for breeding fish from getting perhaps more remote regions, though in this case there is no guarantee that the fish will not be close relatives.
To some extent the problem of inbreeding can be solved by random crossing large schools of fish, further breeding and rearing of full-fledged offspring, which will also be continuously replenished originally created by a group of producers (50 - 100 copies). But breeding efficiency at the same time reduced, as long as some fish spawn, while others eat up it. And there will not save any grid, washcloths and other tricks.
Well, now let's move from general issues to particulars - continue acquaintance with the fishes of the family.
Nigrans - Melanotaenia nigrans (Richardson, 1843). More than a half century ago, John Richardson gave the first scientific description of the rainbow fish. The pioneer was melanoteniya nigrans caught near Port Essington in Australia. The fish were presented as silverside - Atherina nigrans, and only after almost 20 years they were referred Gill to an entirely new genus - Melanotaenia. The genus name can be literally translated as "black stripe". Indeed, a dark longitudinal stripe is characteristic of many species melanoteny, especially the fries.
Nigrans - one of the first Donaciinae settled in aquaria enthusiasts both in Europe and in our country. Natural habitat includes freshwater and brackish waters of eastern Australia and south-west of Papua New Guinea. Fish grow up to 7 cm. Males are larger, brighter colored. For a successful content in the aquarium, it is desirable to add water 1 - 2 teaspoons of sea salt. The rest of the conditions of detention and breeding are as described for other melanotenievyh. Nigrans without apparent harm withstand prolonged decline in water temperature of 16 - 18 degrees C.
In addition nigransa in Australia, there are at least 13 species of rainbow fish. The rest are found in New Guinea.
Iriaterina Werner - Iriatherina werneri Meinken, 1974 is found in the district. Fly in the south of New Guinea and p. Jardine peninsula Cap City in Australia. Among other amazing fish they were first brought to Germany A. Werner in 1973. Small - 5 cm - peaceful fish prefer warm (25 - 28 degrees C) and fresh (partial substitution is performed at least once a week) water. The plants are not hurt. It is better to keep these fish species in the aquarium or with a small quiet melanoteniyami.
The dorsal, anal and caudal fins of males - with unusual outgrowths kositseobraznymi. Females are smaller, more modest painted, without long outgrowths on the fins.
Fish quite delicate, can not tolerate long transport and for this reason have not yet received our wide distribution.
Pre-spawning and spawning the game very spectacular and deliver a lot of pleasant moments to fans of the aquarium. Like the cockatoo playing with their feathery tufts on the head males iriaterii the fluff, then folded rays of dorsal and anal fins. Submission may take several hours, especially if you live in an aquarium large flock of beautiful fish.
Breeding is complicated by problems with feeding small fry passive in the first days of life. It is better to give them the culture of freshwater or brackish water rotifers. You can also use a "living dust". In the absence of the smallest plankton can be screened to try juveniles in public places rinse lightly pressing, small pieces of fresh beef liver. It is important not to overdo it, because of that very quickly deteriorates water. However, with certain skill, this method gives good results.
Feeding fingerlings capable of taking larger feed, does not cause problems.


Kochetov, Moscow Aquarium № 2, 2001