TankBud

Eastern rainbowfish

Melanotaenia splendida splendida

Also known as Deep Water Creek Rainbow

FreshwaterFish

Eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida splendida)
Bcsr4ever · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
50 gal
190 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg depositor · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Melanotaeniidae
Origin
Australia

Overview

The eastern rainbowfish is a large, lively schooler that cruises the middle of a big community tank. It is a good choice once you have kept easier fish.

Did you know

The wider splendida rainbowfish is one of the most common and widespread fish in northern and eastern Australia. It comes in so many local color forms that hobbyists track them by their home river.

Caring for the eastern rainbowfish

Eastern rainbowfish are strong swimmers that can reach 5.9 in (15 cm), so give them plenty of length. Keep a group of six or more in a tank of 50 gal (190 L) or larger. Plant the back and sides thickly and keep a long open channel for cruising. A sandy substrate, driftwood, rounded stones and robust plants around the margins suit them.

They favor water that runs neutral to slightly hard, at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Strong filtration keeps it clean and moving. Feed generously on flake or pellet, with frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia and some greens.

Eastern rainbowfish are peaceful and suit a roomy community with other fish that can hold their own. Males flash color and spar harmlessly for attention.

They spawn continuously, attaching a few eggs a day to fine plants and mops over an extended period. Rearing the small fry through their slow early weeks makes breeding hard.

Good to know

Melanotaenia splendida splendida belongs to the family Melanotaeniidae and is one of the bigger rainbowfish. Its species is split into several regional subspecies, and this eastern form is one of them. It also goes by Deep Water Creek rainbow.

In the wild

The eastern rainbowfish lives in the warm, clear rivers, creeks and lagoons of coastal Queensland in eastern Australia.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The eastern 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 eastern rainbowfish need?

An eastern rainbowfish needs at least 50 gal (190 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an eastern rainbowfish need?

An eastern rainbowfish is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does an eastern rainbowfish eat?

An eastern rainbowfish eats flake or pellet, with frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. Give it some greens too, and feed generously.

How big does an eastern rainbowfish get?

An adult eastern rainbowfish reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

Does an eastern rainbowfish need a group?

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

How does an eastern rainbowfish breed?

Eastern rainbowfish attach a few eggs a day to fine plants and mops over an extended period. The small fry are slow through their early weeks, which makes breeding hard.

Related species