Western RF Ferny Creek

Melanotaenia australis (Ferny Ck)

General information: It is one of the most common species of Rainbowfish in North West Australia. Like most species of Rainbowfish with a large distribution there is some variation in colours from different rivers and even from one end of a system to the other end. Colours tend to be more vibrant in specimens toward the source of a river system. There are a number of good photographs on the ANGFA database. Natural diet includes filament algae, aquatic insects, terrestrial insects and small crustaceans. They are reported to grow to 110 mm but are more common about 70 mm. The inhabit shallower areas around vegetation and other submerged cover. Fry live in the shallows close to the edge. Ferny Creek is in Kakadu National Park near the southern entrance. This colour form has been referred to as the Kombalgie Creek in the past but the actual spot even though quite near Kombalgie Creek is called Ferny Creek and flows into the South Alligator River. The photos used in this info page are from Neil Armstrong and Gunther Schmida took the one second from the left.

Cultivation notes : The water they are cultured in is between 26 and 32 deg, hardness 50ppm, alkalinity 60ppm, pH about 7. Diet in the wild would be ants, algae, other aquatic insects, terrestrial insects and micro crustaceans. A captive diet should contain between 30 and 50 % vegetable matter. It is a peaceful fish suitable for most tropical community aquarium. The species is an egg scattering species and can be bred easily in the aquarium.

Distribution : Found in streams of the Gasgoin WA, Kimberley WA and NorthWest of the NT, Ferny Creek is on the eastern border of its range.

Selling details : Sold individually at 3 cm or larger

Reference: Allen, Midgely & Allen (2002) Freshwater Fishes of Australia