TankMatesTankMates
Sign in
Encyclopedia / Rainbowfish / Eastern rainbowfish
★New · no ratings yetIllustration

Variations

2 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Eastern rainbowfish

Melanotaenia splendida · Splendida, Eastern rainbow, Splendid rainbowfish, Australian rainbowfish

Peaceful, active schooling fish; keep a group of 6 or more in a long tank.

Local price coming soon
· real AED shop prices, never conversions
15 cmBody length, without tail ✓
20–30 °CTemperature ✓
7–8pH ✓
108 LSmallest tank ✓
Add to my tankCompare
Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful eastern rainbowfish.
Not recommended
  • Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful eastern rainbowfish.
Not recommended
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful eastern rainbowfish.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

349 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓5–20 dGH
Group size ✓6 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ✓Top
Care level ✓Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ✓up to 3 years
Size in shops 5–8 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful, active schooling fish; keep a group of 6 or more in a long tank.

Food

Flakes, micro pellets, frozen foods and small live foods.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Mature males are larger, brighter and deeper-bodied than females, with longer dorsal and anal fins.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-scatterer (spawning mops) · Easy

Egg scatterer: a pair spawns daily for several weeks into fine-leaved plants or mops. Adults tend not to eat the eggs, but fry are easier to raise if eggs are moved to a rearing tank.

Pairing

A group of 6 or more.

Setup

A 100 L planted tank with spawning mops.

What starts it

Warm water and plenty of live food.

Eggs

Batches of eggs daily for weeks; eggs hatch in 7-12 days depending on temperature.

Raising the fry

Feed infusoria, then baby brine shrimp.

Common mistakes
  • Keeping too few fish so spawning does not start
  • Eggs eaten by adults
  • Cold or dirty water
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionEastern Queensland, Australia
Rivers and lakesCoastal rivers of eastern Queensland, from Cape York south to the Fitzroy region
HabitatRivers, creeks, lagoons and swamps with vegetation
Native rangeAbout 900 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the eastern rainbowfish

A hardy, adaptable Australian rainbowfish that copes with a wide seasonal temperature range (about 20-30 °C in nature) and is widely bred in aquariums. IUCN: Least Concern (2019).

Wilhelm Peters described this species in 1866 from Australian specimens. It is one of Australia's most widespread and adaptable rainbowfishes, with many local colour forms. It has long been kept in aquariums and has been bred in captivity for generations.

First described by Wilhelm Peters in 1866. Named for 'splendida' means 'splendid' in Latin.

  • Different rivers hold differently coloured populations of this species.
  • It tolerates a wide range of temperatures and water conditions.
  • Several related forms were once treated as subspecies of Melanotaenia splendida.

Sources

17 facts checked with sources