Rainbowfish are a family of small, colorful, freshwater fish that are found in northern and eastern Australia and New Guinea and in the islands of Southeast Asia.
Rainbowfish dominant genus and species many of which were Melanotaenia their generic name from the ancient Greek melano (black) and taenia (banded). Translated, it means "black-banded", and is a reference to the colors that are often striking lateral black running along their bodies in the genus Melanotaenia.
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Rainbowfish are usually less than 12 cm (4.7 in) long, with some species measuring less than 6 cm (2.4 in), while one species, Melanotaenia vanheurni, reaching lengths of up to 20 cm (7.9 in). They live in a variety of freshwater habitats, including rivers, lakes, and swamps. Although they spawn all year round, they lay very large number of eggs at the start of the local rainy season. The eggs are attached to aquatic vegetation, and hatch seven to 18 days later. Rainbowfish are omnivorous, feeding on small crustaceans, insect larvae, and algae.
Rainbowfish are popular aquarium fish along with blue eyes (genus Pseudomugil), others are small colorful fish found in the same habitat and range. Rainbowfish populations in the wild have been greatly affected by the aggressive introduced eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki).
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