Easy to intermediate
Chocolate Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
£13.99
Bright Neon Blue Dwarf Rainbowfish with striking colour and peaceful schooling behaviour. Ideal for community aquariums. Order now with fast UK delivery.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Melanotaenia praecox
Neon Blue Dwarf Rainbowfish are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour. Larger shoals stay calmer, eat better, and look stunning.
Bright Neon Blue Dwarf Rainbowfish with striking colour and peaceful schooling behaviour. Ideal for community aquariums. Order now with fast UK delivery.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Neon Blue Dwarf Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox) is a peaceful, active freshwater rainbowfish from the Mamberamo River system of West Papua, Indonesia. It is best kept as a group of at least 6 in a mature planted aquarium with open swimming space. Adults are compact compared with many rainbowfish: FishBase records about 5 cm standard length, while aquarium references commonly describe fish around 5-8 cm total length. This makes it a strong choice for UK aquarists who want visible colour and movement without the tank size demanded by larger rainbowfish.
This listing is for live Neon Blue Dwarf Rainbowfish for sale in the UK. The species is also sold as Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Praecox Rainbowfish, Diamond Rainbowfish and Dwarf Rainbowfish. Keep them warm, well oxygenated and socially: 22-28 C, stable neutral to slightly alkaline water, and a longer aquarium around 80 cm or larger are the safest targets. Tropical Fish Co ships suitable livestock with a Live Arrival Guarantee by licensed live-animal courier.
| Scientific name | Melanotaenia praecox |
|---|---|
| Common names | Neon Blue Dwarf Rainbowfish, Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish, Dwarf Rainbowfish, Praecox Rainbowfish |
| Origin | Mamberamo River system, West Papua / northern Irian Jaya, Indonesia |
| Family | Melanotaeniidae |
| Adult size | About 5 cm standard length; aquarium adults are often described around 5-8 cm total length |
| Temperament | Peaceful, active, social schooling fish; males display and spar lightly |
| Group size | Keep 6 or more; larger mixed-sex groups show better colour and confidence |
| Minimum aquarium | 80 cm long aquarium; roughly 75-90 litres or more for a small group |
| Temperature | 22-28 C; 24-26 C is a practical everyday target |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 preferred; stability matters more than chasing a number |
| Hardness | Moderate mineral content is preferred; around 8-15 dGH suits many UK setups |
| Diet | Omnivore: fine flake, micro pellets, frozen daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp and small live foods |
| Care level | Easy to moderate once the tank is cycled, stable and not overcrowded |
| Lifespan | Usually 3-5 years with clean water and a varied diet |
Melanotaenia praecox is a small, deep-bodied rainbowfish with a bright metallic blue to silver-blue body. Mature males usually show stronger body depth and red-orange fin edging, while females tend to be slightly slimmer and more yellow in the fins. The colour is structural and changes with angle, light and mood, so the fish often looks brighter in motion than in still photos.
The page title keeps the common selling name, Neon Blue Dwarf Rainbowfish, because that is how many UK hobbyists search for the species. The scientific name remains the exact Shopify anchor: Melanotaenia praecox. It should not be changed to a synonym or a broader rainbowfish label.
FishBase places Melanotaenia praecox in the Mamberamo River area of northern Irian Jaya / West Papua, Indonesia. In nature it is a tropical freshwater fish from warm, oxygen-rich habitats. Aquarium care should therefore focus on stable temperature, good filtration, clean water and open midwater swimming room rather than cramped nano conditions.
Neon Blue Dwarf Rainbowfish are social midwater swimmers. A single specimen often looks nervous and pale; a group has more natural movement, stronger display colour and better feeding confidence. This is why the group size matters as much as the water numbers.
Use an aquarium around 80 cm long as the minimum target for a small group. A longer 90-120 litre planted tank is easier to manage because these fish cruise constantly and need horizontal swimming space. Dense planting at the sides and back gives shelter, while an open central lane lets the group school naturally.
Rainbowfish can jump, especially when startled, so a close-fitting lid is sensible. Avoid tiny tanks, unstable new setups and bare bright aquariums with no cover.
The safest care range is warm, clean and stable: 22-28 C, with 24-26 C a good everyday target. A pH around 6.5-7.5 suits most aquarium-kept fish, and moderate hardness is usually well accepted. Do not chase exact numbers with sudden chemical changes; stability and oxygenation are more important.
Neon Blue Dwarf Rainbowfish are peaceful community fish, but they are active and should not be mixed with slow, timid species that will be outcompeted at feeding time. Good tank mates include similarly sized tetras, rasboras, peaceful barbs, Corydoras, small loaches and other peaceful rainbowfish that enjoy comparable water conditions.
They are especially useful for planted community aquariums because they occupy the middle and upper water column. Males may display to each other, but this is normally showy sparring rather than damaging aggression when the group is large enough and females are present.
Browse our rainbowfish for sale UK category for related species. Verified companion options include Threadfin Rainbowfish, Forked-Tail Rainbowfish, Lake Kurumoi Rainbowfish and Red Rainbowfish for larger displays.
Melanotaenia praecox is an omnivore. In the aquarium it accepts fine flakes, micro pellets and small frozen foods. Feed small portions that stay in the water column long enough for the group to take them. Large sinking pellets are less useful because these fish feed mostly in midwater and near the surface.
Use variety rather than heavy feeding. Rainbowfish are enthusiastic eaters and excess food quickly becomes an ammonia and nitrate problem. For staples and frozen options, use the fish food range and choose small particle sizes suitable for active community fish.
Males are usually more intensely coloured, deeper-bodied and show stronger red-orange fin edging. Females are often slimmer and more subdued. The species is an egg scatterer and may spawn in a mature planted tank, but fry survival is much better in a dedicated breeding setup with spawning mops or fine-leaved plants.
For planned breeding, condition a mixed group with small live and frozen foods. Move spawning mops to a separate hatching container because adults may eat eggs and fry. Newly hatched fry need very small first foods before they can take baby brine shrimp.
FishBase records Melanotaenia praecox at about 5 cm standard length, while aquarium references commonly describe adults around 5-8 cm total length. They stay much smaller than Boesemani and many other larger rainbowfish.
Yes. They are peaceful schooling fish, although males display and spar with each other. Keep a group of at least 6, with a balanced mix of sexes where possible, to spread display behaviour and reduce stress.
Use an aquarium around 80 cm long as a minimum, roughly 75-90 litres or more for a small group. A longer planted tank is better than a tall narrow tank because the fish need horizontal swimming room.
A stable tropical range of 22-28 C is suitable, with 24-26 C a practical everyday target for most home aquariums.
They may leave adult Amano shrimp alone in a planted aquarium, but tiny shrimplets can be eaten. If your main goal is shrimp breeding, choose a fish-free or shrimp-focused setup instead.
They can be good for careful beginners with a cycled, stable aquarium. They are not suitable for brand-new uncycled tanks, tiny aquariums or coldwater bowls.
Tropical Fish Co supplies UK aquarists with carefully packed live fish, practical care guidance and a Live Arrival Guarantee. Neon Blue Dwarf Rainbowfish are best bought as a group, so we recommend planning tank size, filtration and tank mates before ordering rather than adding one fish on impulse.
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