Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: Thought to be extinct in 1987, the Lake Eacham Rainbowfish is found in the north-eastern corner of Australia. Their natural habitats are isolated crater lakes and rainforest creeks abundant in dense vegetation and fallen logs. While they are now extinct from Lake Eacham, they can be found in small populations in Dirran Creek and Lake Euramoo.
PH: 7.0 – 7.5
Temperature: 23°C – 27°C (73 – 81F)
Hardness: Unknown
Description: Melanotaenia eachamensis is not quite as enchanting as other Rainbowfish but displays the characteristic silvery inflections of their species. Reaching a length of 6.5 cm (2 ½ inches), the Lake Eacham’s Rainbowfish exhibits a silver to olive-brown body, reddish fins and thin horizontal brown stripes.
Diet: The information on Lake Eacham Rainbowfish is limited. Try keeping them on a mixed nutritious omnivorous diet with a mix of live and dried foods.
Breeding: While this fish is uncommon in the aquarium hobby, and there are doubts whether or not those being circulated as Lake Eacham Rainbowfish are simply lookalikes or actual specimens, it is believed that this species readily spawns in aquariums. You can keep a pair for breeding or 2-3 females per male.
Set up a separate breeding tank with abundant fine leaved plants, like java moss, or provide artificial spawning mops. The eggs will hatch within a week and should be removed to a separate tank to avoid predation. Feed on baby brine shrimp or similar.
Comments: These fish are currently uncommon in the aquarium hobby despite the fact that they are easy to keep. Keep your Lake Eacham Rainbowfish in 35 litre (10 gallon) well-planted tank, complete with open swimming areas and driftwood. They would do well in either a species or community tank.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species:
Rainbowfish are a great community species in terms of their temperament and apart from other Rainbowfish species they also live happily with most Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, CorydorasCatfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbaiand Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppyand Platy and most Gourami(such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio(particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish make great tank mates. One thing you should take into consideration when housing rainbows with these recommended species is the water quality. Temperature and Hardness are similar but P.H. can be quite different, although it is not ideal, if you keep your water at a P.H. of 7 this should keep your community happy.
Rainbowfish are schooling fish and should be kept in groups consisting of at least six individuals, preferably no less than 10-15. Mix it up with enough females to give them a rest when the males are on the chase, but provide enough males to bring out their vibrant colours when they are in competition for female attention. Whilst this is beneficial to the health and wellbeing of the fish, a large school is rewarding for the aquarist because a school of iridescent Rainbowfish is more dramatic to the eye than a few shy fish peeking out from behind dense vegetation.
Originally posted 2009-11-22 12:17:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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