Search for anything, or pick a category.

  • At the Aquarium
    At the Aquarium
  • In the Field
    In the Field
  • Currents
    Currents
  • IMAX
    IMAX
Press ESC to exit.
Dive in! Get exclusive updates when you subscribe to Aquarium emails.

Lake Tebera Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi)

Finding a rainbow in Rivers of the World

Date Apr 21, 2022
Published in At the Aquarium

Freshwater fans can see even more colors of the rainbow in the Rivers of the World gallery’s Fly River exhibit with the addition of new Lake Tebera Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi, also known as Yellow Rainbowfish) and Neon Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox).

The Lake Tebera Rainbowfish is found in the Lake Tebera Basin on New Guinea, the world’s second largest island, just north of Australia. There, they prefer the heavily vegetated waters of highland lakes and streams in Papua New Guinea’s mountains.

The Neon Rainbowfish is a dwarf rainbowfish also known as the Diamond Rainbowfish, Praecox Rainbowfish or Peacock Rainbowfish. It can be found in Western New Guinea in the tropical waters of the Mamberamo River Basin.

Turquoise Rainbowfish

Fig. 2 A Neon Rainbowfish in the Fly River exhibit (Melanotaenia praecox)

Also recently added to Rivers of the World, look for two new Paradise Gouramis (Macropodus opercularis) palling around with the Gold Barbs and Hillstream Loaches in the gallery’s Chinese Mountain Stream exhibit. These blue-and-red cousins of the Kapuas River’s Three Spot Gouramis are found in numerous tropical river basins throughout China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea.

Paradise Gourami

Fig. 3 A Paradise Gourami (Macropodus opercularis) in the Chinese Mountain Stream exhibit

Gouramis possess an adaptation that allows them to survive in shallow, slow-moving bodies of water like rice fields and marshes, which often lack an adequate concentration of oxygen. They use a labyrinth organ to take breaths of air from the water’s surface occasionally.

Keep Reading

Keep up with even more goings-on at the aquarium, or 
View All
View All
 →
 →
Crested Wood Partridge
The Final Whistle
Date Jun 11, 2025
At the Aquarium
Underwater filmmaker Tim Geers at the premiere of Call of the Dolphins film at TN Aquarium IMAX Theater
Podcast: “Behind The Lens With ‘Cameraman Tim'”
Date Jun 11, 2025
IMAX
SCUBA diver in the TN Aquarium Secret Reef exhibit to promote Podcast Aquatic episode about diving at the aquarium
Podcast: “This One’s All About SCUBA, Steven”
Date Jun 4, 2025
At the Aquarium

Get Unlimited
Aquarium Access

Become an Aquarium Member and enjoy unlimited visits, discounted access to events, discounted IMAX access, and more.
Lets Go
Lets Go
 →
 →
Keep Exploring
At the Aquarium In the Field Currents IMAX
Dive Deeper
Visit the Aquarium Become a Member Donate

Riverwatch is a publication for the members of the Tennessee Aquarium.

Learn More
Learn More
 →
 →
© 2025 Tennessee Aquarium. All Rights Reserved.
  • Archive
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Support
•