Family: Melanotaeniidae
Distribution: The Desert Rainbowfish is found in all the larger rivers systems of arid Central Australia, New South Wales, Queenland, South Australia and the Northern Territory, specifically the Paroo, Warrego and upper Darling rivers. The Desert Rainbowfish is chiefly an inhabitant of desert streams and reservoirs but has also been located in rocky gorges.
PH: 6.0 – 8.0
Temperature: 20°C – 30°C (68 – 86F)
Hardness: Up to 30dH
Description: Desert Rainbowfish grow up to 10cm and live up to five years. The males of this unique species of Rainbowfish can be found in two colour forms. One form displays a purple body with yellow-green fins and a dark speckled border. The other has a blue-green body and fins. During breeding, the male’s body turns a beautiful pink. The female Desert Rainbowfish always have silver bodies and transparent fins.
Diet: Feed the omnivorous Desert Rainbowfish up to twice a day on a nutritious balanced diet of live and processed food. In the wild they feed on algae, aquatic plants and invertebrates so mimic this healthy combination by providing vegetable-based foods with meaty offerings. Natural algae growth can also help provide nutrition.
Breeding: Breeding Desert Rainbowfish in aquariums has not yet been recorded. Despite this, you could trigger breeding by mimicking the warm season of its natural habitat. Start by setting up a separate breeding tank with lots of fine leaved plants such as Cambomba, Java Moss, Mifoil or Riccia. For best results, take the water temperature to its upper echelons of the recommended range and the breeding pair should begin to spawn among plant leaves. Once hatched, remove the fry to a separate tank to avoid predation. Raise the slow-growing fry on small live food, such as baby brine shrimp, or crushed flakes.
Comments: The Desert Rainbowfish is not a common aquarium fish outside Australia and is recommended for the intermediate aquarist. Simulate the natural environment of the Celebes Rainbowfish as much as possible by providing submerged logs and dense aquatic vegetation. Provide a well-planted 20 gallon tank to allow for open swimming.
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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.
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