HomeFreshwater aquarium fishRainbowfish & killifishRed rainbowfish Red rainbowfish (Glossolepis incisus) Scientific name: Glossolepis incisus Weber, 1907 The Red rainbowfish (Glossolepis incisus) is a freshwater fish of the family Melanotaeniidae that grows to about 12 cm (4.7 in). It is easy to keep and peaceful, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 150 L (40 US gal), water at 22–25°C (72–77°F) and a pH of 7.0–8.0. Native range: Indonesia, Lake Sentani in Irian Jaya. Red rainbowfish care at a glanceCare levelEasyTemperamentPeacefulCommunity tankGoodAdult size12 cm (4.7 in)Minimum tank150 L (40 US gal)Temperature22–25°C (72–77°F)pH7.0–8.0Hardness9–19 dGH (161–339 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts flakes, frozen foods and live foods. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 18 - 20Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameGlossolepis incisusFamilyMelanotaeniidae (Rainbowfishes, blue eyes)OrderAtheriniformes (Silversides)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length12.0EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 7.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19 benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: Lake Sentani in Irian Jaya, Indonesia.Conservation status (IUCN)Vulnerable (VU) (A2ce)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More rainbowfish & killifishTami River rainbowfishGlossolepis pseudoincisusLake Kutubu rainbowfishMelanotaenia lacustrisDwarf rainbowfishMelanotaenia praecoxForktail rainbowfishPseudomugil furcatusBlackfin pearlfishAustrolebias nigripinnisJavanese ricefishOryzias javanicusSee all rainbowfish & killifish Can it live with...?Red rainbowfish and Banded rainbowfishRed rainbowfish and Black ghostRed rainbowfish and Black sharkminnowRed rainbowfish and Blackbarred limiaRed rainbowfish and Blackfin pearlfishRed rainbowfish and Bleeding-heart tetraRed rainbowfish and Bloodfin tetraRed rainbowfish and Bluespotted corydorasRed rainbowfish and Brilliant rasboraRed rainbowfish and Butterfly splitfinRed rainbowfish and Chinese suckerRed rainbowfish and Clown barbRed rainbowfish and Clown loachRed rainbowfish and Clown rasboraRed rainbowfish and Crescent bettaRed rainbowfish and Dwarf botiaRed rainbowfish and Dwarf rainbowfishRed rainbowfish and Eel LoachRed rainbowfish and Forktail rainbowfishRed rainbowfish and Gangetic leaffishRed rainbowfish and Garnet tetraRed rainbowfish and Glass catfishRed rainbowfish and Glowlight tetraRed rainbowfish and Goldeneye cichlidRed rainbowfish and Gulf gambusiaRed rainbowfish and Head-and-taillight tetraRed rainbowfish and Horseface loachRed rainbowfish and Indian glassy fishRed rainbowfish and Javanese ricefishRed rainbowfish and Kamaka rainbowfish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026