Madagascar Rainbowfish
Bedotia madagascariensis
For a long time, the Madagascar Rainbowfish was incorrectly referred to in the aquarium trade as the Zona (Bedotia geayi). It was not until 2003 that it was discovered that the Madagascar Rainbowfish was often kept in aquaria. In addition to the genetic differences, the Madagascar Rainbowfish (Bedotia madagascariensis) lacks a red spot, which is conspicuously visible on the chin of the males of the Zona (Bedotia geayi).
The Madagascar Rainbowfish is highly endangered in its natural habitat. Due to the invasive snakehead fish, overfishing and deforestation, which leads to a lack of shade, populations and distribution have declined sharply. The Madagascar Rainbowfish is bred extensively for the aquarium market in North America and Southeast Asia and can also be found in some European zoos. The Ex-situ population (outside Madagascar) probably exceeds the population remaining in the wild many times over.
| Kinship | Percomorpha, Atheriniformes, Bedotiidae (min. 14 species) |
| Habitat | shaded river sections and streams |
| Behaviour | diurnal, in small swarms |
| Diet | insects, invertebrates, occasionally plant parts |
| Bodylength | up to 10 cm |
| Brood | eggs are expelled on thin aquatic plants and adhere to them |
| Incubation period | 4 to 5 days |
| Use | aquaristics, edible fish |
| Current stock | limited distribution area, decreasing |
| At Zurich Zoo since | 2024 |
Distribution area
Conservation status
