Which Australian native fish are suitable for a garden pond?
A. Given that for the majority of people purchase from an aquarium shop is the only practical alternative, there are only limited choices. The crimson spotted rainbowfish Melanotaenia fluviatilius is a good choice for many areas of Australia and is often available through the aquarium trade. Of the many species of rainbowfish, this one has the best low water temperature tolerance and is actually found in the wild as far south as the Goulburn River in Victoria. In tropical areas, practically any species of rainbowfish would be suitable. Rainbowfish eat mosquitoes, ants and other small insects as well as algae and make an ideal pond fish. In an established pond they may not even need supplementary feeding if the stocking rate is kept low. In Melbourne I have kept one of these fish in a smallish pond (about 120 x 90 cm x 45 cn deep) that is protected from frost for over six years without any additional feeding and the pond has remained mosquito free the whole time. More recently (Dec 2005
