{"product_id":"eastern-rainbowfish-deepwater-creek-melanotaenia-splendida-splendida","title":"Eastern Rainbowfish Deepwater Creek | Melanotaenia splendida splendida","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a locality form of the hardy Eastern Rainbowfish, collected from the Deepwater Creek strain. Silvery youngsters mature into shimmering adults, with males flushing red, gold and green as they colour up and jostle for attention. Peaceful, active and reaching around 11–12 cm, it makes a brilliant native shoaler for a roomy tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Eastern Rainbowfish is native to the rivers, creeks, billabongs and lagoons of eastern and northern Australia, extending into New Guinea. It favours clear to slightly turbid, gently-flowing or still waters with aquatic plants, submerged timber and rocky cover, across a broad range of temperate to tropical conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA deep, laterally compressed rainbowfish with the classic double dorsal fin. The base colour is silvery-olive, broken by rows of fine spots and by red, gold and green iridescence that intensifies in dominant, displaying males. Locality strains such as this one are prized for their particular colour and pattern. Females and subadults are plainer and more silvery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful, energetic and constantly on the move. It is a schooling fish that shows its best colour and behaviour in a group of six or more, ideally with several males present to spark friendly rivalry. It suits a lively community of similarly-sized, non-aggressive fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn unfussy omnivore. Feed a quality flake or small pellet staple, supplemented with live and frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm and some vegetable or algae-based food. Colour deepens noticeably on a varied diet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHardy and adaptable, but it appreciates a roomy tank with open swimming lanes, some planting around the edges and a secure lid, as it is an active swimmer that can jump. It prefers clean, well-oxygenated water with steady filtration and tolerates a wide temperature and hardness range. Good colour develops best in mature fish over a natural substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn egg-scatterer that spawns continuously among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops in warm water. Eggs attach by fine threads and hatch over a week or more; adults largely ignore them but will eat fry, so eggs or mops are best moved to a rearing tank. Fry take infusoria and fine foods before graduating to baby brine shrimp.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMelanotaenia splendida splendida\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEastern Rainbowfish (Deepwater Creek)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEastern and northern Australia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 12 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–8 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\u003e120 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150+ litres\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\u003e20–30 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–20 dGH (medium to hard)\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\u003eRoomy native and 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\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther rainbowfish, peaceful natives such as gudgeons and Pacific blue-eyes, larger tetras, barbs, danios, rasboras and peaceful catfish. Best kept in a shoal of its own kind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAggressive or territorial cichlids, fin-nippers, and very small fish or shrimp that could be eaten. Avoid slow, long-finned fish that cannot keep pace with its constant activity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232828113187,"sku":"AA2066","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232828145955,"sku":null,"price":22.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/eastern-rainbowfish-deepwater-creek-melanotaenia-splendida-splendida","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}