# Rainbowfish (*Running River rainbowfish*) Rainbowfish are tiny and colorful, like little rainbows swimming in the water! They love to group together and are very friendly. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Also known as:** Australian Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia, Neon Rainbowfish ![Rainbowfish](https://media.snappit.app/site-media-v1/fc40d251648c0f2289290f8fa70430e6cb33e87852bcf5b9d94f1ca6e8edfedd/image-560x560/w-560.webp) ## Appearance The Rainbowfish has an elongated body adorned with iridescent scales that shimmer in vibrant hues of blue, green, yellow, and red. It often displays distinct horizontal stripes along its sides, making it visually striking and different from plain-coloured stream fish. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Atheriniformes - **Family:** Melanotaeniidae - **Genus:** Melanotaenia ## Interesting facts - Did you know male Rainbowfish 'flash' their brightest colours to win over females? - Some Rainbowfish can instantly change their colour intensity like a mood ring! - The oldest known Rainbowfish lived for over 8 years in an aquarium! - They use their fins to 'dance' in the water, showing off their beauty! ## Special abilities - **Colour Communication:** Rainbowfish can brighten or dim their dazzling colors because it helps them attract mates and communicate with other fish. - **Spotlight Vision:** Rainbowfish have excellent eyesight that helps them easily spot tiny insects and algae to eat in clear water. - **Schooling Safety:** Rainbowfish can swim together in large groups, which helps them confuse predators and stay safe in open waters. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8-15 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.02 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-6 years - **Swim Speed:** 7 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 2 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding These tiny fish munch on small insects, algae, and plankton found floating in the water. - **Age differences:** Younger fish primarily consume microscopic plankton. - **Primary Foods:** insect larvae, algae, zooplankton, small crustaceans, detritus - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Barramundi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barramundi) (*Lates calcarifer*) — Larger predatory fish hunt juvenile and adult rainbowfish. - **Eaten by:** Royal Spoonbill (*Platalea regia*) — Wading birds often prey on rainbowfish in shallow waters. - **Eats:** Bloodworm (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Rainbowfish consume the larvae of various aquatic insects. - **Eats:** Water Silk Algae (*Spirogyra fluviatilis*) — They graze on filamentous algae growing on submerged surfaces. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Rainbowfish? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Rainbowfish? 8-15 cm ### How much does Rainbowfish weigh? 0.005-0.02 kg ### How long does Rainbowfish live? 3-6 years ### What does Rainbowfish eat? These tiny fish munch on small insects, algae, and plankton found floating in the water. ### How fast can Rainbowfish swim? 7 km/h ### How does Rainbowfish hunt? Foraging ### How deep can Rainbowfish go? 2 m ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Rainbowfish: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbowfish)