All fish / Melanotaeniidae

Eastern Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia splendida

Also known as eastern rainbow, splendid rainbowfish, eastern australian rainbowfish, checkered rainbowfish, melanotaenia splendida splendida, splendida rainbow, メラノタエニア・スプレンディダ, ikan pelangi, 澳洲彩虹鱼, 东部彩虹鱼

A sturdy, deep-bodied rainbowfish with a shimmering blue-green body, thin rows of reddish stripes and red or yellow edges to the fins, which become brighter in mature males. It is kept because it is hardy, active and very colourful in a planted community tank with plenty of open swimming space.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp, daphnia and some vegetable matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Eastern Queensland, Australia (coastal rivers draining into the Coral Sea)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that lays small sticky eggs among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops over several days. Breeding is easy; move the eggs or parents to stop egg eating and feed the fry infusoria, then baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

Males can reach 12 cm or more and are fast, boisterous swimmers that may unsettle slow or tiny tankmates, so give a long tank with a tight lid. The name M. splendida splendida is now treated as M. splendida, and it can hybridise with other rainbowfish, so keep strains separate if breeding.