Current Category Aust & New G. Rainbowfish

Native to Australia, New Guinea and several adjacent islands, Rainbowfish ("Rainbows") are the most popular of our native aquarium fish.  They are colourful, undemanding and easy to breed.  Rainbows are well suited to community aquariums with their active manner and peaceful nature.  They are best kept in a small group with other peaceful species in a planted aquarium, with plenty of open swimming space.

Most Rainbows are not fussy about water conditions and can be kept in most aquarium conditions.  Many of the Australian species also have wide temperature tolerances because of the climates they live in.  (e.g. Murray River Rainbows typically experience winter water temperatures down to 10 C, Crimson Spot Rainbows 15 C and Eastern Rainbows 18 C, in summer water temperatures for these fish are typically 25-30 C.)

Rainbows will eat virtually all standard fish foods; most types should be given vegetable/"green" foods regularly, larger species also relish Duckweed.  Avoid feeding beefheart, as this can lead to health problems.

Rainbows are very easy to breed, and often do so in the retail or home aquarium.  The males attract the females with heightened colour and fin displays.  The eggs are scattered on aquatic plants and usually hatch in 7-10 days (provided no fish are present to eat them.)

Rainbows can be quite varied in appearance; the Banded Rainbow for example, has more than 20 geographic variations, each one quite distinctive in colour.

GOYDER RIVER BANDED RAINBOW 4.5CM
	Characterised by their red fins and tail, and the red stripes along the length of the fish.  Their peaceful nature makes them an almost ideal fish for most community aquariums of tropical fish.  Best colours are displayed when the fish are in a well-planted tank with a dark gravel bottom.  Enjoys regular feedings of vegetable/"green" foods, usually grows to about 12cm.

BLEHER'S RAINBOW 4.5CM
	An active, large rainbow native to Lake Holmes in Irian Jaya.  Colouration varies considerably on the fish's mood; the body may show various hues of green, yellow and white with a red tail.  Grows to 12-13cm.

BOESEMAN'S RAINBOW 3.5CM
	The Boesemani is a very attractive rainbow native to Lake Ayamaru, Irian Jaya.  A great display fish when kept in a group of six or more with other community fish in a large planted aquarium.  Can grow up to 10-12cm.

LAKE TEBERA RAINBOW 4.5CM
	One of a number of brightly coloured lake species from PNG.  Males develop a bright yellow body colour with contrasting red fins.  Native to Lake Tebera in the southern highlands.  Peaceful community fish, growing to about 10cm.

MURRAY RIVER RAINBOW 4CM

Native to the Murray-Darling basin, the Murray River Rainbow tolerates a wide range of water temperatures (25-30 C in summer and down to 9-10 C in winter).  It is an ideal native fish for unheated aquaria and garden ponds - active, peaceful and easy to care for.  In outdoor situations, it is  a very efficient means of controlling mosquito larvae.  The males develop a blue-green body, black edged fins and an orange tail, they can grow to 9-10cm whereas the females remain slightly smaller.

NEON RAINBOW 3.5CM
	The Neon Rainbow (Melanotaenia praecox) is perhaps the most spectacular of all rainbow fish. It is best displayed in schools in a heavily planted tank with dark gravel and slightly subdued lighting.  Males are easily distinguished from females by the red edges to their fins.  Ideal tank mates for Neons, Cardinals and most other tetras.

PARKINSONS RAINBOW (ORANGE) 4.5CM
	A large showy rainbow from southern PNG.  Males have orange stripes on their bodies and orange and black fins.  With age, their body colour often changes into large blotches of orange rather than stripes.  Will grow to 12cm or more in a large aquarium.

RED RAINBOW 4CM

The Red Rainbow is one of the most popular of the PNG rainbows.  Mature males are completely red, except for a number of silver reflective scales randomly scattered over the body.  Juveniles and females are mostly silver, the males start to transform into their adult colour at 5-6cm.  A hardy and easy to keep species which is ideal for community aquaria.  Native to Lake Sentani in Irian Jaya, Red Rainbows can grow to 12-14cm.

RED TAIL WESTERN RAINBOW 5CM
	Western Rainbows are a wide spread species from western Australia and the Northern Territory, with many geographic variations.  This is a nice red tailed morph from the N.T.  Hardy and easy to keep, grows to about 9-11cm.