| Common Name | Davie's Creek Rainbow
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| Species/genus | Melanotaenia splendida
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| Keeping | One of the most brilliantly coloured fishes
available. These are not beginner's fishes. These are found in the streams of Australia,
their shade and colour variation depends on the stream in which they are found. Their
name derives from the stream in which they are found. Both sexes sport one thin black
and multiple, thin red-orange horizontal stripes beginning about mid-body and extending
to the tail. The body background color is lavender for both sexes. Fins are orange to red.
Females lack pointed dorsal and anal fins of the mature male and are not quite as colorful.
They can tolerate soft to hard water but prefer the water to be slightly above pH 7.0.
They can accept all kinds of foods but diet should include live food for better growth.
They have to be kept in groups of four or more. They are very active swimmers and would
stress any slow moving fish so the tank mates must be fast swimmers. Ideal
set up is species tank. They need a large tank. They can be excellent dither fish
for cichlid tanks, since they are fast swimmers and normally do not compete for
the same territory as the cichlids, they are not attacked by the cichlids and can
escape such attacks easily. They bring out the shy cichlids with their fast
swimming traits. But care should be taken not to put too small a fish with a
cichlid that is larger and very aggressive. Personally I would not use these lovely fish
as dither fish. These species can jump out of the tank so make sure you have a tight
fitting hood at all times.
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| Breeding | They are easy to breed and long
conditioning periods are not necessary. You need a 20G breeding tank with breeding
mop or dense plants such as java moss at the bottom. Fish have to be conditioned with
live foods for a week before spawning. Spawning takes place with one male to several
females. Usually it takes place in the morning daily and may last for several days.
Water quality has to be maintained and pH at around 8.0. Spawning may last a few days
and eggs drop to the bottom. Well fed parents do not eat the eggs or fry. But preferably
the parents can be removed after a week or the mop can be removed on a daily basis and
put in another fry rearing tank with the same water setup as the breeding tank. Fry hatch
after two weeks and need Infusoria as first food. After a week or so they can take freshly
hatched brine shrimps. The fry will grow fast and soon can take other foods.
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| Origin | Temp | Water | Temper
| Size | Tank | Food | Breeding
|
| Australia | 70-85 °F | Soft to Hard
| Peaceful, Community | 5-6 inch | 40 Gallon
| All, worms | Egg scatterer, Easy
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