{"product_id":"murray-river-rainbow-melanotaenia-fluviatilis","title":"Murray River Rainbow | Melanotaenia fluviatilis","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Murray River Rainbowfish is a hardy southern-Australian native that flushes yellow-gold with fine red spotting as it matures. Peaceful, endlessly active and a brilliant cool-tolerant shoaler, it reaches around 9 cm (up to about 11 cm) and is one of the best native community fish for Australian keepers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMelanotaenia fluviatilis\u003c\/em\u003e is found through the Murray–Darling river system of eastern Australia, in flowing rivers, billabongs and vegetated backwaters. Populations experience a wide temperature range across the seasons — warm summers and genuinely cool winters — which makes this a notably temperature-tolerant species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA streamlined, deep-bodied rainbowfish with the family's twin dorsal fins. Mature fish take on a golden-yellow body sheen overlaid with rows of fine reddish spotting and orange-red fins; dominant males colour up most intensely, especially when displaying to each other in the morning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and highly active. Like all rainbowfish it is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group of six or more — larger groups look far better and keep the fish confident. It mixes well with other peaceful, similarly-sized community fish and native tankmates. Males display to one another harmlessly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn easy-going omnivore. Feed a good-quality flake or micro-pellet as the staple and supplement with frozen daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm, plus some vegetable matter. A varied diet brings out the best colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a medium-to-large, well-planted tank with open swimming space and clean, well-oxygenated water; around 90 litres or more suits a proper group. This species is unfussy about hardness (neutral to hard) and pH (6.5–8.0), and tolerates a broad temperature range from about 20 °C up to 28 °C. Regular partial water changes keep it in top condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn egg-scatterer that lays sticky eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days. Eggs hatch in 7–10 days and the tiny fry need infusoria-grade first foods. Breeding is straightforward in a mature, well-planted tank, though the adults will eat their own eggs and fry.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cem\u003eMelanotaenia fluviatilis\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMurray River Rainbowfish (Australian Rainbowfish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAustralia (Murray–Darling river system)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 9 cm; up to about 11 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 more\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\u003e20–28 °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\u003e8–25 dGH (neutral 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\u003eBeginners; native and peaceful community tanks\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 native gudgeons and hardyheads, larger tetras, danios, barbs, rasboras, peaceful catfish and similarly-sized community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eVery small fish that may be outcompeted at feeding, aggressive or large predatory cichlids, and slow long-finned fish that cannot keep up.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232829489443,"sku":"BA8766","price":16.75,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232829522211,"sku":"BA8766-M","price":21.75,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Murray_River_Rainbowfish_728be87f-039d-40f5-8bb2-3a727bd27c7f.jpg?v=1781700108","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/murray-river-rainbow-melanotaenia-fluviatilis","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}