Melanotaenia fluviatilis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melanotaenia fluviatilis |
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The Australian rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis) is a beautiful freshwater fish. It is also sometimes called the Murray River rainbowfish or the crimson-spotted rainbowfish. This fish lives only in Australia. As its name suggests, it is very colourful! Male rainbowfish are usually brighter than females. Australian rainbowfish like to swim together in groups, called schools. They often gather near logs or along riverbanks.
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About the Australian Rainbowfish
Scientists give every living thing a special name. The Australian rainbowfish's scientific name is Melanotaenia fluviatilis. A scientist named Francis de Laporte de Castelnau first described this fish in 1878. He originally called it Aristeus fluviatilis.
For a while, scientists thought the Australian rainbowfish might be the same as another fish, the crimson-spotted rainbowfish. Or they thought they might be just different types of the same species. But in 1986, after looking closely at their genes and body shapes, scientists decided they were two separate species.
What They Look Like
Australian rainbowfish can grow up to about 11 centimetres (4.3 inches) long. However, males are usually no bigger than 8.5 cm (3.3 inches). Females are a bit smaller, typically growing to about 7 cm (2.8 inches).
These fish have long bodies with small heads and big eyes. They have two fins on their back and a pointed fin underneath. Their tail fin is slightly forked, like a shallow "V". Most of their fins are yellow with dark edges. They also have orange or red marks.
Australian rainbowfish are very colourful! Their sides are silvery-brown and can shine green or silver. A blue stripe runs from their nose all the way to their tail. Males often have several orange stripes along the back half of their bodies. When they are ready to breed, males also get red spots on their back, bottom, and tail fins. These fins might even have a black edge. Females are not as brightly coloured and do not have the red stripes.
How They Behave and What They Eat
Australian rainbowfish are omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. They like to munch on small creatures that live in the water or fall into it. They also eat some stringy algae. If kept in an aquarium, they can eat various live foods and even flake food.
These fish are very peaceful. They love to swim together in groups, or schools. You can often find them gathered around logs or grassy riverbanks. Many people who keep fish say that breeding Australian rainbowfish is quite easy.
Where They Live
Australian rainbowfish are freshwater fish. They are native to Australia, meaning they naturally live there. You can find them in the states of New South Wales and Queensland. They are especially common in the Murray-Darling Basin, which is a very large river system. The Campaspe River and the Goulburn River in Victoria are the southernmost places where these fish live.
Melanotaenia fluviatilis prefers to live in slow-moving freshwater rivers, wetlands, and billabongs (which are like ponds). They can also be found in drains, creeks, and even reservoirs. Sometimes, they live in still water too. They like water temperatures between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius (72-77°F). Since they live in the southernmost part of Australia where rainbowfish are found, they are special. They are the only rainbowfish species that can handle colder winter temperatures, even as low as 10 to 15 degrees Celsius (50-59°F).
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Australian rainbowfish
