Dwarf Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox)

Common Name: Dwarf Rainbowfish
Scientific Name: Melanotaenia praecox
Genus: Melanotaenia
Wild Origin: New Guinea, primarily found in slow-moving streams, swamps, and clear tributaries

The Dwarf Rainbowfish, also known as the Neon Rainbowfish, is a small yet brilliantly coloured species prized for its electric blue body and bright red to orange fins. Despite its compact size, it displays the classic rainbowfish shape and lively swimming behaviour. Peaceful and highly active, they thrive in groups where their colours intensify and natural schooling behaviour is displayed. Best kept in well-planted aquariums with open swimming space, Dwarf Rainbowfish add constant movement and vibrant colour to community tanks. Their hardiness, social nature, and dazzling appearance make them a favourite among aquarists seeking a smaller rainbowfish species.

R45,00

11 in stock

Add R3000,00 to cart and get free shipping!
Shipping

Please note: If the size and weight of your order exceeds the standard box shipping size extra courier fees will be communicated to you after you have placed your order. Due to the complexity of this it can not be calculated during checkout. The website will only calculate the minimum shipping Charge. This is company Policy.

We only ship livestock and plants Monday – Wednesday. All other products can be shipped Monday – Friday. To ensure livestock does not sit in the couriers warehouse over the weekend.

Returns

Non-livestock items are returnable within 7 days upon purchasing. If the item is found to be in working condition, the client will be liable to cover ALL shipping fees. If items is faulty, a full refund or replacement will take place and shipping will be covered by Aqua Atlantis.

Care Requirements

Tank Size:
A minimum tank size of 60 litres is recommended, though larger aquariums are preferred for groups. These fish are very active swimmers and benefit from horizontal swimming space.

Water Parameters:
Dwarf Rainbowfish are hardy and adaptable but thrive best in stable conditions:

Temperature: 23–27°C

pH: 6.5–7.5

Hardness: soft to moderately hard

Clean, well-oxygenated water is essential, as they are sensitive to poor water quality.

Filtration & Flow:
Moderate filtration with gentle to moderate flow is ideal. They enjoy some current but should still have calmer areas to rest.

Aquascape & Environment:
A planted aquarium with open swimming areas works best. Use fine-leaved plants, driftwood, and darker substrates to enhance their colour. Floating plants can help diffuse lighting and make them feel more secure.

Diet

Omnivorous and easy to feed. Offer a varied diet of:

High-quality flakes or micro pellets

Frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworms

A varied diet helps maintain strong colour and overall health.

Social Behaviour:

Best kept in groups of 6 or more, with larger groups producing more confident behaviour and brighter colours. Males display their best coloration when competing gently for female attention.

Tank Mates:

Peaceful and suitable for community tanks. Compatible with small, non-aggressive species such as rasboras, tetras, Corydoras, and peaceful dwarf cichlids. Avoid slow-moving or long-finned fish that may be stressed by their constant activity.

We Recommend:

These carefully selected options provide a well-balanced nutritional profile, ensuring that your fish receive the essential nutrients they need for optimal growth, vibrant colors, and overall health. By offering a variety of these high-quality foods, you can help maintain the vitality and well-being of your fish, promoting a healthy and thriving aquarium environment.


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RETURNS:
We don’t accept any returns on livestock. (PLANTS,AQUATIC, ANIMALS)

  • Non-livestock items are returnable within 7 days upon purchasing. If the item is found to be in working condition, the client will be liable to cover ALL shipping fees. If items is faulty, a full refund or replacement will take place and shipping will be covered by Aqua Atlantis .
  • Returns after 7 days will be subject to a handeling fee of 10% and the client will remain responsible for for shipping.
  • Waranty claims: Items will be collected from the client or brought back to Aqua Atlantis and sent directly to the suppliers. If the item is found to be in working condition, the client will be liable for ALL shipping fees. If the item/product is faulty, a replacement unit will be sent to the client.
  • We will not accept any returns on any products that are not to the buyers liking after 7 days of purchase.
  • We reserve the right to cancel any order and refund the customer for whatever reason we see necessary.

PAYMENTS:

  • By placing an order with Aqua Atlantis you agree to the following payment options: EFT , CASH/CARD ON COLLECTION, PAYMENT OPTIONS PROVIDED AT CHECKOUT.

SHIPPING:

  • We only ship livestock and plants Monday – Wednesday. All other products can be shipped Monday – Friday. To ensure livestock does not sit in the couriers warehouse over the weekend.
  • Please note that the couriers only operate Monday – Friday and do not operate over weekends.

Shipping Charges:

The Courier Guy (R120 – R500) – Depending on what you order. If there are additional shipping charges, this will be communicated to you after you have placed your order.

  • We can Ship dry goods such as: hardscape, soils, gravels, nano tanks, filtration etc, using the locker to locker pudo service for only R80.
  • Local Collections (cape town)- free.
  • If you select courier at checkout that is not overnight/priority shipping for plants Aqua Atlantis will not be held liable for any losses that may occur.
  • We will ONLY Ship aquaticanimals using the express Shipping method.

Please note: If the size and weight of your order exceeds the standard box shipping size extra courier fees will be communicated to you after you have placed your order. Due to the complexity of this it can not be calculated during checkout. The website will only calculate the minimum shipping Charge. This is company Policy.

Live Arrival Guarantee – First 24 Hours
We ship all our livestock using priority overnight delivery to give them the best chance of arriving healthy and happy. If the courier takes longer than 24 hours to deliver, we unfortunately can’t take responsibility for any losses. Our 24-hour live arrival guarantee kicks in the moment the courier picks up your parcel.

DOA GUARANTEE:

DOA Guarantee: If any livestock arrives deceased, please send us proof (photos/videos) within 1 hours of receiving your package, with the animals still in their original packaging.

1. Returns Policy

1.1 Livestock Returns

  • We do not accept returns on any livestock including aquatic plants and aquatic animals under any circumstances.

1.2 Non-Livestock Returns (within 7 days)

  • Non-livestock items may be returned within 7 days of purchase.
  • If the item is inspected and found to be in working condition, the client is responsible for all shipping fees.
  • If the item is found to be faulty, a full refund or replacement will be provided and shipping will be covered by Aqua Atlantis.

1.3 Returns After 7 Days

  • Returns requested after 7 days will incur a 10 percent handling fee.
  • The client remains responsible for all shipping fees.

1.4 Warranty Claims

  • Items may be collected from the client or brought back to Aqua Atlantis and will then be sent to the supplier for assessment.
  • If the item is found to be in working condition, the client will be liable for all associated shipping fees.
  • If the item is confirmed to be faulty, a replacement unit will be provided at no additional cost to the client.

1.5 Preference-Based Returns

  • We do not accept returns for items that are no longer to the buyer’s liking after 7 days of purchase.

2. Rights Reserved

  • Aqua Atlantis reserves the right to cancel any order and refund the customer for any reason we deem appropriate.
  • We reserve the right to refuse service or assistance to any client at our discretion to protect our staff, our business, and the integrity of our operations.

3. Payments

  • By placing an order with Aqua Atlantis, you agree to the accepted payment methods: EFT, Cash or Card on Collection, and the payment options provided at checkout.
  • We will only ship out your order once full payment has reflected in our account.
  • Orders will not be packed, released, or dispatched until payment is confirmed.

4. Shipping Policy

4.1 Shipping Days

  • Livestock and plants are shipped Monday to Wednesday only to prevent parcels from sitting in courier warehouses over weekends.
  • Non-livestock items may be shipped Monday to Friday.
  • Couriers operate Monday to Friday only and do not deliver on weekends or public holidays.

4.2 Shipping Charges

  • The Courier Guy charges between R150 and R500 depending on order size and weight.
  • If additional courier fees apply this will be communicated after your order is placed.
  • PUDO locker to locker for dry goods such as hardscape, soils, gravels, nano tanks, and filtration is R80-R250.
  • Local collections in Cape Town are free.

4.3 Shipping Conditions

  • If a non-overnight or non-priority shipping option is selected for plants, Aqua Atlantis will not be held liable for any losses or delays that may occur.
  • Aquatic animals are only shipped using express shipping.
  • If the size or weight of your order exceeds standard courier box dimensions, additional courier fees will apply. These cannot be fully calculated during checkout and will be communicated once your order is processed. The website calculates only the minimum shipping charge. This is company policy.

4.4 Tracking and Courier Responsibility

  • We encourage you to track your parcel during transit using the tracking information provided once your order has been dispatched.
  • Once parcels leave our facilities they are in the hands of the courier company.
  • For delivery updates, rerouting, delays, or any transit-related queries, it is best to communicate directly with the courier service using your tracking details.

5. Live Arrival Guarantee – First 24 Hours

  • All livestock is shipped using priority overnight delivery to give the animals the best chance of arriving healthy.
  • The 24 hour live arrival guarantee begins the moment the courier collects your parcel.
  • If the courier takes longer than 24 hours to deliver your order, Aqua Atlantis cannot accept responsibility for losses related to livestock.

6. DOA (Dead on Arrival) Guarantee

  • If any livestock arrives deceased, you must provide proof within 1 hour of receiving your parcel.
  • Proof must consist of clear photos or videos of the affected livestock still in their original sealed packaging so that we can assist you properly.

Back Orders and Shipping Exclusions

Kindly note that all back-ordered items are strictly non-refundable.

Please also be aware that free shipping promotions are subject to size and weight limitations. Orders containing large or bulky items, including but not limited to glassware and aquarium cabinets larger than 60cm, do not qualify for free shipping, even if the order value exceeds the free shipping threshold.