Boeseman's Rainbowfish
The Boeseman’s rainbowfish (or Melanotaenia boesemani) is a small, brightly coloured freshwater fish endemic to the Ayamaru Lakes and their tributaries in the Vogelkop (Bird’s Head) Peninsula of West Papua, Indonesia, where it inhabits shallow lakes and slow-moving waters with vegetation and clear water.
Adults typically reach around 8cm to 11cm, with males growing slightly larger than females and displaying the most vivid colours: a bluish-grey or purple anterior half and a vibrant orange-red posterior half. Females are generally slimmer and less intensely coloured.
Melanotaenia boesemani
Aquarium needs
- Temperature
- 25 °C – 28 °C (tolerable 21 °C – 32 °C)
- Plant cover
- 20%–80%
- Shoal size
- 30–60
- Deep water
- 50 m² + 15 m² per additional adult
- Water
- Freshwater
- Food
- Copepods + Algae Pellets
- Food cost, grade 1 / 2 / 3
- $130 / $181 / $181
- Lifespan
- 8 yr
- Breeds in
- All seasons
Overview
- Scientific name
- Melanotaenia boesemani
- Conservation status
- Endangered
- Shoal size
- 30 – 60
- Deep water
- 50 m² + 15 m² per additional adult
- Temperature
- 25 °C – 28 °C
- Water
- Freshwater
- Biome
- Lakes and Rivers