TankBud

Australian rainbowfish

Melanotaenia fluviatilis

FreshwaterFish

Australian rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis)
Bahudhara · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–77°F
20–25°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
4.3 in
11 cm
Minimum tank
30 gal
115 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg depositor · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Melanotaeniidae
Origin
Australia

Overview

The Australian rainbowfish is a peaceful schooling fish for the middle of a planted community tank. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The Australian rainbowfish's species name, fluviatilis, means "of the river". The name nods to its home in the Murray-Darling, the largest river system in Australia. The fish is also one of the more cold-tolerant rainbowfish, able to sit through cool spells that would stress its tropical cousins.

Caring for the Australian rainbowfish

Keep Australian rainbowfish in a group of at least six, in a tank of 30 gal (115 L) or larger. Plant the sides and back with hardy plants, and leave open water down the center for swimming. A sandy or fine gravel bed and some driftwood suit them.

Keep the water at 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0, on the harder side. Give them steady, well-oxygenated water with a gentle flow. Offer a quality flake or small pellet, along with frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.

Australian rainbowfish are peaceful with other calm community fish of a similar size. A larger shoal brings out the best color, as the males display and chase among themselves. Feed them well and give them room, which helps young males color up.

Males are deeper bodied and more strongly colored than the slimmer females. They spawn over a long season rather than in one event, releasing a few sticky eggs each day. The eggs catch on fine-leaved plants or spawning mops by short threads and hatch in about a week. Settling a breeding group takes patience, and breeding them at home is hard.

Good to know

The Australian rainbowfish belongs to Melanotaeniidae, the rainbowfish family of Australia and New Guinea. Males take a year or more to develop their full silver and orange finnage.

In the wild

Australian rainbowfish come from the Murray-Darling and other inland waters of eastern Australia. They live in flowing streams, billabongs and quiet pools, often in clear water that runs neutral to slightly alkaline.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Australian rainbowfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an Australian rainbowfish need?

An Australian rainbowfish needs at least 30 gal (115 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Australian rainbowfish need?

An Australian rainbowfish is comfortable at 68–77°F (20–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does an Australian rainbowfish eat?

An Australian rainbowfish eats a quality flake or small pellet. Give it frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp as well.

How big does an Australian rainbowfish get?

An adult Australian rainbowfish reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

Does an Australian rainbowfish need a group?

Yes. An Australian rainbowfish is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male Australian rainbowfish from a female?

Males are deeper bodied and more strongly colored than the slimmer females.

How does an Australian rainbowfish breed?

Australian rainbowfish spawn over a long season, laying a few sticky eggs each day on fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. The eggs hatch in about a week, and breeding them at home is hard.

Related species