Ornate Rainbow

The Ornate Rainbow originates within the streams, pools and slackwaters of Australia.

There are two strains of this species, red and yellow. The strain that we obtain is the red strain, and is farm raised.

Rainbowfish are known for their characteristic large eyes, black or silver band that runs through the middle scale rows, deeply forked mouth, and two dorsal fins.

This peaceful rainbow is a schooling fish that will do best a well planted aquarium. Ornate Rainbows require a gravel substrate and their colours may intensify with a dark coloured gravel.

An egg layer, the Ornate Rainbow reproduces more easily in a separate breeding tank with a moss substrate.

The adults should be removed from the breeding tank after the fry hatch, usually after six or seven days.

The fry should be fed an omnivore diet starting 24 hours after they hatch as they are still being fed by their yolk sac.

Although Ornate Rainbows have large mouths their throats tend to be narrow.

An omnivore diet of flake foods, live foods, and plant matter should be fed in small pieces.