Western Rainbowfish

About

The Western Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia australis) is probably the most common rainbowfish species found across Australia, ranging through the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia from the Ashburton River north to the DeGrey and beyond. In the wild it occupies a surprisingly broad range of habitats, rivers, creeks, swamps, and marshy lagoons, often gathering near the surface around rocky pools or sheltering close to submerged wood and vegetation along stream margins. That adaptability carries over nicely into the aquarium, making this a solid choice for newer keepers. One thing to be aware of is that M. australis shows considerable variation in color and pattern depending on where the fish originates, and the different locality forms will hybridize readily, so mixing them is best avoided. Frustratingly, most fish sold in shops are juveniles that look fairly washed-out, and full color can take well over a year to develop even with excellent feeding. But adults reward patient keepers with genuinely rich coloration. Temperament is peaceful, though its active, fast-moving nature can stress smaller or more sedate tankmates. Pairing it with similarly active fish of comparable size, other rainbowfish, danios, barbs, or Corydoras, tends to work well. Breeding is achievable for most hobbyists, though raising the tiny fry, which initially need microscopic foods and tend to hang right at the surface, takes a bit more attention.