Product Details

Wapoga Red Rainbowfish – Chilatherina alleni

The Wapoga Red Rainbowfish is a striking New Guinea rainbowfish known for its active swimming, metallic body sheen and impressive red colour in mature males. Correctly listed as Chilatherina alleni, this Wapoga strain is best suited to spacious, mature aquariums with clean water, open swimming room and a proper group. It is peaceful with suitable tank mates, but its size and constant movement mean it should be kept with other confident community fish rather than shy nano species.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Wapoga Red Rainbowfish
Other Names: Wapoga Rainbowfish, Allen’s Rainbowfish, Red Wapoga Rainbowfish, Chilatherina sp. Wapoga
Scientific Name: Chilatherina alleni
Fish Type: Rainbowfish / Melanotaeniid
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Chilatherina alleni is native to New Guinea, with aquarium strains strongly associated with the Wapoga River area of West Papua, Indonesia. Natural habitats include tributary streams, creeks and rivers with gravel, rock or sand bottoms, leaf litter, submerged wood and areas of slow to moderate flow.

In the aquarium, Wapoga Red Rainbowfish should be given a mature, well-filtered setup with open swimming space, planted edges, moderate flow and good oxygenation. They are active midwater fish, so the layout should not be overcrowded with décor.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Wapoga Red Rainbowfish have an elongated, laterally compressed rainbowfish body with metallic sheen and colour that develops strongly with maturity. Mature males can show red, reddish-orange, bronze, yellow, blue-green or metallic body tones depending on mood, age, lighting and strain. Males are usually deeper-bodied and more colourful, with more extended dorsal and anal fins, while females are smaller, slimmer and more subdued.

Adults usually reach around 9–11 cm, making this a medium-sized rainbowfish. The best colour is usually seen in mature males kept in a settled group with good diet, clean water and plenty of swimming room.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is best suited to larger peaceful community aquariums, planted rainbowfish displays and active New Guinea-style setups. It suits aquariums with open midwater swimming lanes, plants around the sides and back, and moderate water movement.

Wapoga Red Rainbowfish are not suitable for tiny aquariums, shy nano communities, aggressive cichlid tanks, predator aquariums or cramped layouts with little swimming room. They can intimidate very timid fish through activity alone, even though they are not aggressive.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 180 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 100 cm recommended. Larger aquariums of 240 litres or more are preferred for mature groups, mixed rainbowfish displays and better long-term colour development.

Keep in a group of at least 6, with 8 or more preferred. A mixed-sex group is ideal, as males show their best display colour when females and rival males are present.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 24–28°C
pH: 6.5–7.8
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Keep water clean, stable and well oxygenated. This species appreciates regular partial water changes, good filtration and steady conditions. Avoid poor oxygenation, high nitrate, sudden water-chemistry changes and cramped, stagnant aquariums.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Wapoga Red Rainbowfish are peaceful but very active community fish. Suitable tank mates include other rainbowfish of similar size, larger peaceful tetras, danios, robust rasboras, peaceful barbs, Cory-type catfish in compatible temperatures, bristlenose plecs and other confident community species.

Avoid very small nano fish, shy slow feeders, long-finned delicate species, large predators and aggressive cichlids. Adult rainbowfish may eat very small fry or tiny shrimp, so they are not ideal for shrimp-breeding aquariums.

Feeding:

Wapoga Red Rainbowfish are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality flakes, small floating or slow-sinking granules and rainbowfish pellets as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brineshrimp, mosquito larvae, bloodworm and small insect-based foods.

A varied diet supports colour, body condition and display behaviour. Feed small amounts that are eaten quickly, as active rainbowfish have strong appetites and do best with clean water.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is an active midwater swimmer that spends much of the day moving through open areas of the aquarium. Males may display to females and rival males by intensifying colour, flaring fins and making short chasing movements. This is normal in a suitable group and usually does not cause harm when there is enough space.

Wapoga Red Rainbowfish are egg scatterers. Females deposit adhesive eggs among fine plants, mosses or spawning mops, and adults do not provide parental care. Fry require separate rearing if breeding is intended.

Care Notes:

Add Wapoga Red Rainbowfish only to a mature, fully cycled aquarium. Provide open swimming room, stable water quality and a secure lid, as active rainbowfish can jump when startled. Avoid overcrowding, poor oxygenation and long periods without water changes.

Do not mix locality strains if breeding for line purity. The Wapoga strain should be kept and bred separately from other Chilatherina alleni or rainbowfish locality forms if maintaining the strain matters.

Recommended For:

Intermediate

Availability:

Occasional / Specialist rainbowfish strain, often captive-bred when available

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, red colour, metallic sheen, fin length, sex, age and markings can occur between individual fish.