{"product_id":"skull-creek-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-sahulensis","title":"Skull Creek Rainbowfish | Melanotaenia sahulensis","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Skull Creek (Sahul) Rainbowfish is a hardy Australian–New Guinean native that flushes with blue, gold and red as it matures. Peaceful and endlessly active, it reaches around 8–10 cm and makes a glowing, easygoing shoaler for a roomy, well-planted tank — a superb rainbowfish for the beginner.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelanotaenia sahulensis is found across northern Australia (Cape York) and southern New Guinea, on the shared Sahul shelf, where it lives in clear to slightly turbid streams, creeks and billabongs among vegetation, in neutral to moderately hard water that warms in the tropical sun.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA classic deep-bodied rainbowfish shape, silvery with age-deepening washes of blue, gold and reddish tones along the flanks and into the fins, and a series of fine horizontal lines. Dominant, mature males show the richest colour, especially when displaying to one another in a bright, planted tank.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeaceful and very active, it can be a little shy, so a shoal of six or more (with a good mix of males to spark colour) settles it and brings out the best display. It mixes beautifully with other rainbowfish, larger tetras, peaceful barbs, rasboras, gudgeons and gentle catfish that enjoy similar conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn omnivore with a healthy appetite. Offer a quality flake or small granule as a staple and supplement with frozen and live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and bloodworm, plus some plant or spirulina-based food to round out the diet and keep the colour bright.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 150 L, with a tank around 1.2 m long or larger better suited to an active shoal. Keep temperature at 24–29 °C, pH 6.5–8.0 and GH moderately hard, and give it bright light, open swimming space and clean, well-filtered water. As an active swimmer it can jump, so keep the tank covered. It is plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn egg-scattering species that lays adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over an extended period, giving no parental care. Eggs take a couple of weeks to hatch. A conditioned group in warm, clean water will spawn readily, and the fry can be reared on fine foods.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMelanotaenia sahulensis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSahul Rainbowfish, Skull Creek Rainbowfish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthern Australia (Cape York) and southern New Guinea\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 8–10 cm (occasionally to 12 cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–7 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, granules, frozen and live foods, some plant matter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–29 °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\u003eModerately hard, around 8–16 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\u003eBright, planted community 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, danios, gudgeons, peaceful loaches and robust catfish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with slow, timid or very small fish that may be out-competed, fin-nippers, and large aggressive cichlids.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232828408099,"sku":"AA1514","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232828440867,"sku":"AA1514-M","price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/skull-creek-rainbowfish-mela-43091534053667.webp?v=1790306577","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/skull-creek-rainbowfish-melanotaenia-sahulensis","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}