{"product_id":"deepwater-creek-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-splendida","title":"Deepwater Creek Rainbowfish | Melanotaenia splendida","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Deepwater Creek Rainbowfish is a locality form of the Eastern Rainbowfish, one of Australia's classic hardy natives — silver flushed with red, gold and green that deepens beautifully with age. Peaceful, active and bombproof in a shoal, it is larger than many realise, reaching around 12–15 cm, so give it room to swim. A brilliant, colourful fish for a spacious community.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelanotaenia splendida is widespread across the rivers, creeks and billabongs of northern and eastern Australia, in clear to slightly turbid water over sand, gravel and among aquatic plants and submerged wood. It handles a wide range of conditions and temperatures, from cooler winters to warm tropical summers, which makes it very adaptable in the aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA deep-bodied rainbowfish that develops striking colour with maturity — silvery flanks overlaid with rows of red, orange and green, and reddish fins. Dominant males are the brightest and deepest-bodied, flashing intense colour during their morning displays. Colour looks washed-out in young or stressed fish and blooms once they settle into a shoal.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeaceful, active and best in a shoal of six or more, where the males display their colours to one another. Its quick movements and adult size can unsettle very timid or tiny fish, but with similarly sized, active community species it is an excellent, good-natured tankmate. Keeping a group also curbs any minor squabbling.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn omnivore with a hearty appetite. Feed a quality flake or small pellet as the staple, plus frozen and live foods such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp, and some vegetable matter. A varied diet with colour-enhancing foods brings out the best reds and greens.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 150 L, with 200 L or larger better for a full shoal of these active swimmers. Keep temperature at 22–28 °C, pH 6.5–8.0 and neutral to hard water. Give open swimming space with planted margins, good filtration and steady water quality. It is hardy and forgiving, and completely plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn egg-scatterer that spawns readily among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, laying eggs over an extended period that attach by fine threads. Adults ignore the eggs, which can be moved to a separate tank to hatch; the tiny fry need very fine foods and grow slowly but steadily.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMelanotaenia splendida\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeepwater Creek (Eastern) Rainbowfish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthern and eastern Australia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 12–15 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\u003e150 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: flake, small pellets, frozen and live foods, vegetable matter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–8.0\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\u003eSpacious community and native Australian 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 tetras, peaceful barbs, rasboras, corydoras and other active, similarly sized community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with very small or timid fish that may be outcompeted, long-finned slow fish that could be nipped, and large aggressive cichlids.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232829817123,"sku":"BA8764-S","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232829849891,"sku":"BA8764","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Deepwater_Creek_Rainbowfish_6bdd05aa-2a38-4e86-908c-801ffcb256f5.jpg?v=1781699998","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/deepwater-creek-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-splendida","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}