All fish / Percidae

Rainbow Darter

Etheostoma caeruleum

Also known as rainbow darter, blue darter, darter, レインボーダーター, 彩虹镖鲈

A small bottom-dwelling darter from clear, fast riffles, with breeding males showing striking blue bars over orange-red flanks and bright edged fins. It is kept by native fish enthusiasts in cool, well-oxygenated stream tanks, where it perches on stones and darts about with lots of character.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5.5 cm

Temperature

10 to 20 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

75 litres

Keep as

Small group, ideally one male with several females

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen bloodworm, blackworm, daphnia and brine shrimp; rarely takes dried food

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Eastern North America: Great Lakes, Ohio and upper Mississippi basins

Breeding

Females bury eggs in gravel in riffles during spring while a male clasps them, with no parental care afterwards. It has been spawned in captivity when given a cool winter period, strong flow and clean gravel, though raising the tiny fry on live foods takes effort.

Good to know

Needs cool, highly oxygenated water with current and is not suited to warm tropical tanks; males can squabble over territory. Collection of wild native fish is regulated in many US states and Canadian provinces, so check local rules.