{"product_id":"eastern-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-splendida-ba8763","title":"Eastern Rainbowfish | Melanotaenia splendida","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Eastern Rainbowfish is the classic hardy Aussie native — silvery youngsters that mature into shimmering adults flushed with red, gold and green, colour that deepens with age and rises to a peak in displaying males. Peaceful, endlessly active and reaching around 11–12 cm, it is a bombproof shoaler for a roomy tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to the rivers, creeks, billabongs and lagoons of eastern and northern Australia, extending into New Guinea. It occupies clear to slightly turbid, gently-flowing or still waters with aquatic plants, submerged timber and rocky cover, across a broad temperate-to-tropical range.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA deep, laterally compressed rainbowfish with the family's characteristic twin dorsal fins. The silvery-olive body is overlaid with fine spotted rows and iridescent red, gold and green that flares up in dominant males as they court and spar. Females and juveniles are plainer and more silvery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful, energetic and always on the move. A schooling fish that looks and behaves best in a group of six or more, ideally with a few males to keep the colour show going. It fits happily into a lively community of similarly-sized, non-aggressive fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn easy omnivore. Offer a quality flake or small pellet staple with regular live and frozen daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm, plus some vegetable or algae-based food. A varied diet brings out the strongest colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHardy and adaptable. Give it a roomy tank with open swimming space, planting around the margins and a secure lid, as it swims fast and can jump. It likes clean, well-oxygenated water with steady filtration and tolerates a wide range of temperature and hardness. Full colour develops in mature fish over a natural substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn egg-scatterer that spawns continually among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops in warm water. Eggs attach by fine threads and hatch over a week or so; adults ignore the eggs but will eat fry, so move eggs or mops to a rearing tank. Fry take infusoria and fine foods before moving on 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\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEastern Rainbowfish\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":55232829751587,"sku":"BA8763","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55304233713955,"sku":"AA1807","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/eastern-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-splendida-ba8763","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}