One of the smaller members of the genus Melanotaenia, the Pygmy Rainbowfish is an incredibly vibrant fish, particularly in a planted aquarium, where their colours can best be shown. This fish looks like a gas light, with iridescent blues over the entire body. A white stripe down the centre of the fish sets this colour off. Like most rainbowfish, juveniles can be fairly drab, and often take 6-12 months to develop mature colouration.
An active, schooling fish, PygmyRainbowfish should be kept in large groups, with a minimum of six fishes. They are unaggressive, and can be mixed with virtually any other community type fishes. They should not be mixed with large cichlids, or othe fish which may eat them. They make excellent dither or target fish for smaller, moderately aggressive cichlids, such as Pelvicachromis. Their bright colouration can also make them a focal point in a planted aquarium.
Care should be taken when mixing similar species of Melanotaenia, as they may hybridise in the aquarium.