{"product_id":"mary-river-checkered-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-splendida-inornata","title":"Mary River Checkered Rainbowfish | Melanotaenia splendida inornata","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mary River Checkered Rainbowfish is a hardy, active Australian native with a shimmering, checker-patterned body that intensifies with age and good conditioning. Peaceful and easy to keep, it is an excellent schooling fish for a community aquarium and rewards keepers with lovely colour when maintained in a group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis subspecies is native to northern and eastern Australian waterways, including the Mary River system, where it inhabits clear, slow to moderately flowing streams, billabongs and vegetated margins. Conditions range from soft and slightly acidic to neutral, and the fish are used to warm, well-oxygenated water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMelanotaenia splendida inornata has a silvery to olive body overlaid with a delicate checkerboard of scale markings and reddish or yellow highlights in the fins. Mature males become deeper-bodied and more colourful, especially when displaying. Adults reach up to about 12 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and social, it should be kept in a shoal of at least six, and preferably more, which keeps it confident and encourages natural behaviour. It mixes well with other rainbowfish and robust community species, though it can be a touch boisterous at feeding time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn omnivore with a notably vegetarian leaning, it accepts quality flakes, micro-pellets and frozen foods, and appreciates regular vegetable matter. Without enough plant-based food it may begin to nibble soft aquarium plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvide a spacious tank of at least 90 litres with open swimming room, some planting and gentle to moderate flow. It is adaptable to a range of water chemistry but does best in neutral, well-filtered water with regular partial water changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn egg-scatterer that deposits adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days. Adults do not guard the eggs, which hatch in around 7–10 days; fry are small and take fine foods.\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 splendida inornata\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMary River Checkered Rainbowfish, Chequered Rainbowfish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthern and eastern 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\u003e90 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e120 litres or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore – flakes, micro-pellets, frozen and vegetable foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–16 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\u003eCommunity and Australian native 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\u003eMostly – may nibble soft plants if underfed on greens\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther rainbowfish, larger tetras, peaceful barbs, rasboras, Corydoras, bristlenose catfish and other easygoing community fish of similar size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery small or timid fish that may be outcompeted, aggressive cichlids, and long-finned slow swimmers that could be out-paced at feeding time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232829554979,"sku":"BA8765-S","price":12.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232829587747,"sku":"BA8765","price":17.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/mary-river-checkered-rainbow-43091531890979.webp?v=1790306577","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/mary-river-checkered-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-splendida-inornata","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}