Rainbow Shiner Hydrophlox Chrosomus 4cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Rainbow Shiner is a small North American minnow that lights up in metallic blues, purples and pinks, especially in spawning colours when males glow violet across the head and back. It is a peaceful, ever-moving shoaler from clear, gravelly streams of the Mobile River basin in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, and suits unheated or cool community aquariums.
- Adult Size: Around 5–6 cm (2–2.5 in); occasionally 8 cm
- Lifespan: 3–5 years
Origin
- Native to: South-eastern USA; Mobile River drainage
- Habitat: Clear, cool streams with riffles, gravel and sand
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, drift feeder
- Preferred Foods: Small flakes, micro pellets, daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm, cyclops
- Feeding Habits: Small feeds once or twice daily; colour-enhancing food helps
Tank Mates
- Best with: White cloud minnows, danios, other shiners, small loaches, gudgeon
- Avoid: Large or predatory fish; slow long-finned species
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful; mild chasing within the shoal
- Territoriality: None; keep six or more, ideally ten
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
- Challenges: Needs cool, clean, oxygen-rich water and steady flow
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, cool and well oxygenated
- Temperature: 10–22°C (50–72°F)
- pH: 6.5–8.0
- Hardness: 5–20 dGH
- Flow: Moderate to strong
- Tank Size: Minimum 80 litres for a shoal of six; a long tank with a powerhead is best
Final Notes
Colour depends on conditions: expect the full rainbow only in a cool, clean, well-oxygenated tank with a current and a good shoal, and the fish look their best under LED lighting. They will not last in a heated tropical tank. Rainbow Shiners leave plants alone and are egg scatterers that eat their own eggs; males are slimmer and brighter, and both sexes grow tubercles when spawning. Also a fine summer pond fish.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.