Celebes rainbowfish

Identity and search names

Single-species profile for Marosatherina ladigesi. Preserve supplier and locality information because wild populations are geographically restricted. Search names: Celebes sailfin

Environment and housing

Open current-swept swimming area, planted margins, high oxygen, stable mineral content and a secure lid

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Omnivore taking small aquatic invertebrates, zooplankton, algae and fine prepared foods

Feeding routine: Offer small varied meals once or twice daily across the full surface area

Breeding and reproduction

Plant or mop spawner producing adhesive eggs over an extended period

Parental care: No parental care; adults may eat eggs and fry

System demands

Filtration: Use mature biological filtration sized for the adult stock and feeding load, with guarded intakes and a flow pattern the species can use without continual effort.

Aeration: Maintain strong gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen, especially overnight, during warm weather, medication, crowding or any interruption to filtration.

Maintenance: Test ammonia and nitrite after changes or abnormal behaviour; remove waste from the occupied zone and perform regular water changes matched to temperature and mineral chemistry.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope

Single-species profile for Marosatherina ladigesi. Preserve supplier and locality information because wild populations are geographically restricted.

Adult size and space

Up to about 8 cm standard length. At least 180 L with a long open swimming footprint for eight or more. Adult dimensions, activity, social structure and waste production matter more than sale size.

Social structure

Keep at least eight to ten with both sexes represented and more females than males where possible

Swimming zone

Primary zone: Upper and middle water. Keep that zone usable and provide unobstructed feeding access, movement and refuge appropriate to the species.

Feeding ecology

Omnivore taking small aquatic invertebrates, zooplankton, algae and fine prepared foods

Feeding plan

Offer small varied meals once or twice daily across the full surface area

Water stability

Maintain 22–28 °C; pH: 7.0–8.5; hardness/minerals: Moderately hard to hard, mineral-rich water. Stable temperature, oxygen, mineral chemistry and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing a single exact number.

Habitat structure

Open current-swept swimming area, planted margins, high oxygen, stable mineral content and a secure lid

Compatibility plan

Choose peaceful hard-water fish that do not nip the males’ extended fins or dominate surface feeding

Breeding plan

Plant or mop spawner producing adhesive eggs over an extended period. Parental care: No parental care; adults may eat eggs and fry. Do not trigger reproduction without capacity for aggression, eggs or fry and lawful long-term placement.

Quarantine

Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated nets, containers and siphons. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm normal feeding, respiration, skin, fins and waste, and never pour transport water into the established aquarium.

Welfare checks

Check schooling, fin condition, feeding response, respiration, male display pressure, body condition and evidence of chronic shimmying or surface distress.

Biosecurity and release

Never release fish, eggs, fry, aquarium water, sediment, plants or foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Check the exact accepted identity in current BICON, Australian live-fish import requirements and applicable South Australian rules before import, sale or movement; import eligibility does not authorise release or wild collection.

Main risk

This vulnerable endemic is not a disposable community fish. Unstable mineral chemistry, low oxygen, tiny groups and unrecorded mixing of conservation lines undermine welfare and provenance.

Adult Projected Load

Moderate for the planned adult stock. Calculate filtration, oxygen and swimming space from the full adult size (Up to about 8 cm standard length) and social group (Keep at least eight to ten with both sexes represented and more females than males where possible), not the juvenile sale size.

Filtration

Use mature mechanical and biological filtration with protected intakes and enough turnover for the adult group while preserving species-appropriate current and refuge.

Aeration

Provide strong gas exchange and backup aeration; increase oxygen support before warm weather, heavy feeding, crowding, medication or filter interruption reduces the safety margin.

Maintenance

Remove uneaten food and bottom waste, clean prefilters before flow falls, test ammonia and nitrite after changes, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes.

Overridable Warnings

This vulnerable endemic is not a disposable community fish. Unstable mineral chemistry, low oxygen, tiny groups and unrecorded mixing of conservation lines undermine welfare and provenance.

Welfare and risk

Check schooling, fin condition, feeding response, respiration, male display pressure, body condition and evidence of chronic shimmying or surface distress.

Sources

• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes — Marosatherina ladigesi — Accepted name, synonym and taxonomic placement
• Universitas Hasanuddin — feeding ecology of Marosatherina ladigesi — Endemism, adult size, feeding ecology and habitat pressure
• IUCN Red List search — Marosatherina ladigesi — Conservation and provenance cross-check
• Australian Government — importing live ornamental fish — Australian import pathway and biosecurity requirements
• PIRSA — South Australian noxious fish list — South Australian possession, trade and release context
• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes current search — Marosatherina ladigesi — Current accepted-name, synonym, distribution and habitat cross-check