{"product_id":"coen-river-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-trifasciata","title":"Coen River Rainbowfish | Melanotaenia trifasciata","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Banded, or Coen River, Rainbowfish is one of Australia's most spectacular natives, a mature male blazing with a bold black lateral band over red-gold and blue flanks. Peaceful, hardy and endlessly active, it grows to around 12–13 cm and is at its jaw-dropping best in a shoal of six or more in a roomy, mature aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelanotaenia trifasciata occurs across northern Australia, from Cape York through the Top End, in clear, well-vegetated creeks, streams and billabongs. Wild waters are typically warm and range from soft and slightly acidic to neutral, often over sand and leaf litter with plenty of plant cover. A planted tank with open swimming lanes, gentle flow and bright lighting recreates its home and brings out its colour.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA deep-bodied, laterally compressed rainbowfish with a crisp dark midline stripe and shimmering scales that flush red, orange, gold and blue depending on locality and mood. Regional forms such as the Coen River strain are especially prized for their red intensity. Males are larger, deeper-bodied and far more colourful, and colour peaks when rival males display to one another.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful and busy. This is an active, open-water schooler that mixes beautifully with other rainbowfish, larger tetras, peaceful barbs, rasboras, bristlenose and gentle community fish. Keep it in a group, ideally with several males, so their sparring displays bring out full colour without any real harm. Its fast pace can unsettle very timid or slow tank mates.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn unfussy omnivore that takes quality flake and small pellets readily, and shows its best colour and condition on a varied diet including frozen and live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp, plus some vegetable matter. Feed small amounts a couple of times a day, keeping food up in the water column where these mid-water fish prefer to feed.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum aquarium of around 170 L, with 200 L or larger better for a proper shoal of these active swimmers. Keep temperature at 24–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.0 and GH neutral to hard, around 8–20. They are adaptable and hardy but appreciate clean, well-oxygenated water with regular changes and steady conditions. They are peaceful and plant safe, so mix happily into a planted display.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBreeding is achievable. Mature pairs scatter small adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over an extended period, with eggs hatching in a week or so. The tiny fry need infusoria and other very small foods before graduating to baby brine shrimp. Removing eggs or using a separate rearing tank protects them, as adults will eat their own spawn.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMelanotaenia trifasciata\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBanded (Coen River) Rainbowfish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthern Australia (Cape York to the Top End)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 12–13 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–8 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (active schooling)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e170 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore: quality flake, pellets, frozen and live foods, some greens\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.0–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeutral to hard, around 8–20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted native and larger community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other rainbowfish, larger peaceful tetras, rasboras, peaceful barbs, bristlenose and other catfish, gudgeons and other Australian natives of similar size and temperament.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with slow, long-finned or very timid fish that dislike fast company, with fin-nippers, and with large aggressive cichlids. Avoid very soft, acidic water long term, as this species prefers harder, neutral to alkaline conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232829096227,"sku":"BA8338","price":24.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232829128995,"sku":"BA8338-M","price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/coen-river-rainbowfish-melan-43091531497763.webp?v=1790306577","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/coen-river-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-trifasciata","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}