Fishes / Habitat
The Australian rainbowfish, most often the crimson-spotted rainbowfish Melanotaenia duboulayi or the closely related Murray River rainbowfish Melanotaenia fluviatilis depending on the shop, carries ir
The Australian rainbowfish, most often the crimson-spotted rainbowfish Melanotaenia duboulayi or the closely related Murray River rainbowfish Melanotaenia fluviatilis depending on the shop, carries iridescent blue, yellow and orange tones that shift and flash as the fish moves. Both species genuinely come from eastern Australia, unlike some other fish loosely marketed under an Australian name, and reach around eight to twelve centimetres.
One of these two species, the crimson-spotted rainbowfish, has real credentials beyond the aquarium: an Australian study testing native fish against mosquito larvae found it ate more larvae than every other species tested, including the introduced mosquitofish species usually credited with mosquito control, making it a genuinely useful fish in its home range as well as a decorative one in a tank.
A group of six or more does well in a tank of sixty to a hundred litres depending on the exact species and its adult size, with open swimming space and good water flow. Australian rainbowfish are generally hardy and tolerant of a range of water conditions, including typical Indian tap water.
Good lighting and some open water alongside planting brings out their iridescent colour most effectively.
An easy omnivorous diet of flakes, pellets and occasional live or frozen food suits them well. They are peaceful, active shoalers that do best in a proper group rather than just a couple of fish.
Because more than one species is sold under the general name Australian rainbowfish, it is worth asking a shop for the specific species if final adult size matters for a particular tank.
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