Australian Rainbow Fish

Freshwater rainbow fish are widely kept group of fish for a number of reasons. Although some species will grow over 10cm they are a sociable fish that will not attack other species unless they are small enough to eat. This makes the rainbow fish a good choice for a community aquarium.

Ease of care is another positive aspect of the rainbow fish. They will eat a community flake or pellet which can be supplemented with most live foods. Water is best kept from alkaline to neutral for these Asiatic fish.

Preferred temperature can range but a tropical aquarium is best for breeding and general keeping. Some species are fine to keep in outdoor ponds if they originate from sub tropical regions.

Breeding is straight forward for rainbow fish. They should be conditioned using live or frozen foods to maximize egg production. One male will be enough to service several females. During courtship the male rainbow fish will increase in color and perform sideways dances for the females. Eggs are layed in small numbers over several days. The preferred spawning site is fine plants near the water surface. Java moss or a spawning mop can be used for this purpose. Fry are very small but grow quickly into small adults.