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Boesemani Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia boesemani
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Melanotaeniidae
📍 Ajamaru Lakes, West Papua
One of the most colourful freshwater fish, the boesemani rainbowfish sports a vivid split colouration — bright blue-purple on the front half and yellow-orange on the rear. Males colour up fully in well-maintained tanks with varied diet and good water quality.
Care Guide
Diet
Boesemani rainbowfish are omnivores that thrive on a varied diet of high-quality flake foods, small pellets, and regular offerings of live or frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworms. Feed once daily in small portions, offering only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes. Supplement with spirulina-based foods to enhance coloration, particularly in males.
Behavior
These are active, schooling fish that spend most of their time in the mid-water column, constantly swimming and foraging. They are peaceful and social, requiring a minimum group of 6 individuals to feel secure and display natural schooling behavior. Males display vibrant colors and may engage in harmless chasing and posturing, especially during feeding times.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity is possible but requires patience and specific conditions including slightly acidic to neutral water, dense vegetation for egg scattering, and careful separation of fry. Females scatter eggs among plants; parents do not guard eggs and will consume them if given the opportunity. Fry are tiny and require infusoria or liquid fry food for the first week before accepting micro-pellets.
Tank Mates
Similar size, peaceful temperament, and identical water parameter requirements make them ideal mid-water companions
Small, peaceful schooling fish with compatible water requirements; may be slightly smaller but coexist peacefully
Peaceful, similar temperature range; occupy different zones though males can be territorial toward each other
Generally safe but adult rainbowfish may occasionally prey on smaller shrimp; provide dense vegetation for refuge
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, flashing against objects, lethargy
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30°C, perform 25% water changes daily, use aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) or commercial ich treatment; maintain for 10-14 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration at fin bases, progressive fin loss
Perform 25% water changes every 2-3 days, improve water quality and reduce stress, use antibacterial medication if severe; ensure adequate filtration
Columnaris (Flexibacter columnaris)
White or grayish film on body, mouth rot, fin deterioration, loss of appetite
Isolate affected fish, treat with antibacterial medication, maintain pristine water conditions with frequent changes, increase aeration
Nutritional Deficiency
Faded coloration (especially in males), stunted growth, lethargy, loss of appetite
Provide varied diet with quality flakes, pellets, and frozen foods; supplement with spirulina and vitamin-enriched foods; ensure 2-3 daily feedings
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – flake, pellets, daphnia, brine shrimp, spirulina
- lifespan
- 5–8 years
- max size
- 11 cm (4.3 in)
- tank size
- 30 gallons minimum
- school size
- 6+
- temperament
- Peaceful, active
Water it likes
- ph
- 7.0–8.0
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 9–19 dGH
- temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
Stats
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