Eastern rainbowfish
Melanotaenia splendida
easypeacefulmiddle swimmerMelanotaeniidae
- Tank length
- 120 cmabout 4 ft (47 in)
- Group
- 6+
- Temperature
- 20–29 °C68–84 °F
- pH
- 6.4–7.2
- Adult size
- 10 cm4 in
- Lifespan
- 5–8 yrs
Hardy and adaptable but large and boisterous for a rainbow; give it a long tank and avoid very small tankmates.Hardy and adaptable but large and boisterous for a rainbow; give it a long tank and avoid very small tankmates.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Blue rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Brevis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Caudopunctatus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Multies
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Parkinson's rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Pindani
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Saulosi cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Similis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Afra cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 20–29 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.4–7.2 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–12 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Eastern Queensland and northern Australia | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 5–8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 120 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |