Eastern Rainbowfish

About

The eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida splendida) is one of Australia's most widespread and variable rainbowfish, and that variability is worth keeping in mind when you shop for it. What you'll almost certainly find at the fish store are drab, unimpressive juveniles that give almost no hint of what's coming. Full adult coloration can take upward of a year to develop, even with excellent feeding, so this is a species that rewards patience. To complicate things further, this is technically one of four described subspecies of Melanotaenia splendida, and within this subspecies alone there's enormous geographic variation in color and patterning. Fish from different localities are often sold with a place name appended to the label. Don't mix the different forms or subspecies, as they'll hybridize readily. In terms of behavior, this is a peaceful fish but a fast and fairly large one, and its energy can unsettle small or slow-moving tankmates. A group of at least six to eight is strongly recommended. Both to reduce skittishness and because males kept together will actively compete to show off their best colors. Good companions include other similarly sized rainbowfish, characins, danios, barbs, and Corydoras. It's a beginner-friendly species overall, and breeding is achievable with a little extra setup work.