All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Lake Eacham rainbowfish

Melanotaenia eachamensis

Also known as lake eacham rainbow, eachamensis rainbowfish, dirran creek rainbowfish, eacham rainbowfish, melanotaenia eachami, レイクイーチャムレインボー, 伊查姆湖彩虹鱼

A small, sturdy rainbowfish with a silvery blue body, a dark midlateral stripe and red or orange edges to the fins, with males growing deeper bodied and more colourful. It is kept for its active shoaling, hardiness and its conservation story, as the original lake population disappeared from the wild in the 1980s and survived largely in hobbyist and research tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

6.5 cm

Temperature

20 to 27 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 6 or more, ideally with more females than males

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and small pellets, plus frozen or live bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, with some plant matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Australia: Atherton Tableland, north-east Queensland (Lake Eacham and nearby streams)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that lays adhesive eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days. It breeds readily in captivity, and the eggs hatch in about a week, with fry needing infusoria or liquid fry food at first.

Good to know

Do not keep it with other Melanotaenia species, because it hybridises easily and pure, location-known stock matters for conservation. It is listed as Endangered, so buy captive-bred fish from reputable sources.