Boesemani Rainbowfish care guide
Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) — minimum tank 150 L, temperature 24-28 °C, pH 7-8.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) is a striking rainbowfish endemic to a small lake system in West Papua, Indonesia. Mature males display a distinctive two-tone body — a deep blue front half transitioning to a vivid orange-yellow rear — while females remain silvery.
Taxonomy
- Family: Melanotaeniidae
- Genus: Melanotaenia
- Scientific name: Melanotaenia boesemani
Habitat
Restricted to the Ayamaru, Hain and Aitinjo lakes of the Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua, where the water is hard, slightly alkaline and clear, with submerged vegetation and rocky margins.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L (39.6 US gal)
- Adult size: 8-10 cm
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7-8
- GH: 8-18 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- School size: ≥6 individuals
Diet
An omnivore that feeds on small invertebrates, insect larvae and plant matter at the surface and mid-water. In aquaria it accepts quality flakes, micro-pellets, frozen and live foods such as daphnia, mysis and brine shrimp; frequent small feedings sustain growth and colour.
Compatibility
A peaceful active mid- to upper-water shoaler that intensifies its colour in male groups when several individuals display together. Maintain a group of at least six and combine with other peaceful active species — large tetras, gouramis, peaceful barbs and Corydoras. Avoid slow, long-finned tankmates.
Breeding
An egg-scatterer that deposits eggs over fine-leaved plants or spawning mops; eggs are adhesive and hatch in 7-10 days. Adults do not actively predate eggs but are best removed for higher fry survival.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Endangered. Wild populations have declined sharply due to over-collection for the aquarium trade and habitat degradation; most aquarium stock is now captive-bred from established lineages.
Breeding Boesemani Rainbowfish
Overview
Boeseman's Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) is a rainbowfish of family Melanotaeniidae endemic to the Ayamaru Lakes on the Bird's Head (Vogelkop) Peninsula of West Papua, Indonesia. It is an egg scatterer that spawns over several weeks, and the KB record rates breeding difficulty as intermediate.
Sexing
Mature males are considerably larger and more vibrant than females and develop a notably deeper body as they mature. Males display constantly to one another when in spawning condition, while females become visibly plumper.
Conditioning
The adults are best conditioned as a group in a separate aquarium with plenty of live and frozen foods.
Breeding Setup
Use a breeding tank of at least 30″ in length with slightly hard, alkaline water, a small air-powered filter for oxygenation and no substrate. Reported parameters are about pH 7.5 at 27-29 °C (80-84 °F). Fine-leaved plants such as java moss or nylon spawning mops serve as the spawning medium.
- Temperature: 27-29 °C (80-84 °F)
- pH: around 7.5, slightly hard and alkaline
- Spawning medium: java moss or nylon mops
- Tank: 30″ minimum, no substrate
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Rather than a single large spawn, the species lays batches of eggs daily over several weeks; the eggs attach to surfaces via small threads. Mops can be removed and replaced regularly so eggs can be reared away from the adults.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch in 7-12 days depending on temperature. Newly hatched fry require infusoria-type foods initially, then graduate to free-swimming foods such as brine shrimp nauplii after about one week. Because the fry stay near the surface, sinking foods are unsuitable.
Common Challenges
Spawning itself is not difficult, but the fry can be challenging to raise, in part because they stay at the surface and need very small, floating first foods.