Australian Biotope

Australia is the driest continent on earth but a range of indigenous aquatic life forms have made it their home. Although Australian fish and plants can be common where water is present, the reduced frequency of water bodies has resulted in fewer fish species than many other global locations. Even so there is still a number of options available for an Australian biotope aquarium.

Australia's harsh weather conditions have forced local fish to evolve accordingly.

Many native fish can tolerate huge variations in temperature. The desert goby (Chlamydogobius eremius) has evolved to suit it's dune covered landscape by tolerating temperatures between 4 and 42 degrees. It is not uncommon for a species to be found in water that measures as low as 15 degrees Celsius in winter and 35 degrees in summer.

The most popular aquarium fish species to originate from Australia come from the rainbow fish family. (Melanotaenia) These are peaceful but hardy fish that can be kept outside during winter in subtropical climates.

Within Australia barramundi are also popular aquarium fish. Large predatory specimens are usually grown from fingerlings in large fish tanks. In the natural environment rainbow fish would often be eaten by hungry barramundi.

The isolation of some water courses has resulted in localised colouration within many fish species. Rainbow fish and other natives can show bold or subtle differences that can make them difficult to identify. Extreme Australian biotope aquariums could feature only the colour forms present in an individual creek or lagoon.


Return to > Biotope Aquarium