Eastern Rainbowfish Identification Guide

Key identification features

• Deep, laterally compressed body typically 3-4 inches (8-10 cm)
• Olive-brown to blue-grey back with a distinctive red or orange stripe running along the upper body toward the dorsal fin
• Silvery-yellow flanks and belly
• Fins edged in red-orange, most vivid in mature males, with a notably red-tinted anal fin base
• Two dorsal fins and a forked tail
• A subtle golden sheen often visible across the mid-flank in bright light

Common look-alikes

• Australian Rainbowfish: larger overall with only faint striping rather than a bold red dorsal stripe
• Banded Rainbowfish: shows multiple parallel bands rather than a single dorsal stripe
• Madagascar Rainbowfish: marked with one solid black stripe instead of red

Where you'll see one

Native to coastal streams, rivers, and lagoons of southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales, Australia, in slow to moderate flowing water. It commonly schools near overhanging bank vegetation and submerged debris, often in the company of other small native fish, favoring shaded pools along forested creek edges.