TankBud

Boeseman's rainbowfish

Melanotaenia boesemani

Also known as Boesemani rainbowfish

FreshwaterFish

Boeseman's rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani)
H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
81–86°F
27–30°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
4.3 in
11 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
108 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg depositor · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Melanotaeniidae
Origin
New Guinea

Overview

Boeseman's rainbowfish is a peaceful midwater schooler for a warm, hard-water community tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

Boeseman's rainbowfish comes from just a handful of lakes, and heavy collection for the aquarium trade has pressured its wild stocks. Most fish sold today are farm bred.

Caring for the Boeseman's rainbowfish

Boeseman's rainbowfish look their best in a group of six or more, with several males among them. Give the group a tank of 29 gal (108 L) or larger. Plant the edges heavily, keep open swimming space through the middle, and add fine substrate, rock and wood.

Give them hard water at 81 to 86°F (27 to 30°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0, warmer than many rainbowfish need. Keep the warmth steady and the water clean and well oxygenated. Feed a mix of flake or small pellet, with frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.

Boeseman's rainbowfish are peaceful and mix well with other calm fish that enjoy warm, harder water. Their good color comes with age, quality food and bright light. Be patient with young stock, which can arrive fairly plain.

Mature males develop a deep body and two-tone blue and orange coloring, while females stay slimmer and more silvery. The fish lay a few eggs a day over a long period, attaching them to fine plants or mops with short threads. They give no parental care. Steady conditions and separating the eggs from the adults help, but consistent results are difficult and breeding is rated hard.

Good to know

Melanotaenia boesemani belongs to the rainbowfish family Melanotaeniidae. It is named after Marinus Boeseman, the Dutch scientist who described it, and also goes by Boesemani rainbowfish.

In the wild

Boeseman's rainbowfish is native to the Ajamaru Lakes and connected streams on the Vogelkop Peninsula of western New Guinea. The lakes are warm and clear, with hard, alkaline water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Boeseman's rainbowfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Boeseman's rainbowfish need?

A Boeseman's rainbowfish needs at least 29 gal (108 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Boeseman's rainbowfish need?

A Boeseman's rainbowfish is comfortable at 81–86°F (27–30°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a Boeseman's rainbowfish eat?

A Boeseman's rainbowfish eats flake or small pellets, with frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp. Quality food helps bring out its color.

How big does a Boeseman's rainbowfish get?

An adult Boeseman's rainbowfish reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

Does a Boeseman's rainbowfish need a group?

Yes. A Boeseman's rainbowfish is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male Boeseman's rainbowfish from a female?

Mature males develop a deep body and two-tone blue and orange coloring. Females stay slimmer and more silvery.

How does a Boeseman's rainbowfish breed?

Boeseman's rainbowfish lay a few eggs a day over a long period, on fine plants or mops. The parents give no care, and consistent results are difficult, so breeding is rated hard.

Related species