{"product_id":"black-banded-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-nigrans","title":"Black Banded Rainbowfish | Melanotaenia nigrans","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Black-banded Rainbowfish is a hardy little Australian native, marked with a clean dark midline stripe and warm red-flushed fins that brighten as males mature and display. Peaceful, active and easy to keep, it makes a wonderful native shoaler for a well-planted tank. It reaches around 10cm, so give a group room to swim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMelanotaenia nigrans is endemic to Australia, found in freshwater creeks, rivers, billabongs and occasionally brackish estuaries across the tropical north and eastern drainages. It favours clear, vegetated, flowing waters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA slender, laterally compressed rainbowfish with a distinct dark stripe running from snout to tail. The body is silvery to olive, and mature males intensify with red edging on the fins and a deeper body. As with all rainbowfish, colour builds with age and is best in a settled group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and very active, it does best in a shoal of six or more, where males display their colour to one another. An excellent community fish that mixes well with other peaceful natives and robust community species of similar size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn omnivore. Feed a quality flake or small pellet as the staple, with frozen and live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm, plus some algae or vegetable content. Frequent small feeds keep colour and condition up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvide a well-planted tank with open swimming space, gentle to moderate flow and good oxygenation. This is an adaptable, hardy species that tolerates a range of conditions but does best in stable, clean water on the soft-to-neutral side. It suits a temperate to subtropical unheated or lightly heated tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn egg-scatterer that lays adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days. The parents do not guard the eggs, so mops or dense plants (or a separate rearing tank) are needed to protect eggs and fry, which hatch in about a week.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMelanotaenia nigrans\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack-banded Rainbowfish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAustralia (northern \u0026amp; eastern drainages)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 10cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (active schooling)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e120 litres or more (for a shoal)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22-26°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.5-7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4-13 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted native \u0026amp; community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther rainbowfish, peaceful Australian natives such as Pacific blue-eyes and gudgeons, larger tetras, rasboras, Corydoras and Bristlenose plecos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSlow, long-finned fish that may be out-swum for food, aggressive cichlids, fin-nippers, and very tiny fish that could be intimidated by its constant activity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232828014883,"sku":"AA2067","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232828047651,"sku":null,"price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Black_Banded_Rainbowfish_42254e13-d333-48fa-8235-e9853c4586e3.jpg?v=1781699993","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/black-banded-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-nigrans","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}