The Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) is one of the most iconic freshwater aquarium fish, renowned for its striking "half-and-half" coloration.
Physical Characteristics
Coloration: Mature males feature a deep bluish-purple front and a vibrant orange or yellow rear. Females and juveniles are typically more muted, appearing silver, green, or yellow.
Size: They grow to approximately 8–11.5 cm (3–4.5 inches).
Maturity: It can take up to a year of high-quality care for juveniles to develop their famous adult colors.
Aquarium Care & Requirements
Tank Size: A minimum of 115–190 litres (30–50 gallons) is recommended. Ideally, use a tank at least 1.2 metres (4 feet) long to provide enough lateral swimming space for this active species.
Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–30°C (75–86°F).
pH: 7.0–8.0 (they prefer slightly alkaline, hard water).
Hardness: 5–18 dGH.
Diet: They are omnivores and thrive on a varied diet of high-quality flakes, pellets, and frozen or live foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Behaviour & Compatibility
Social Life: They are shoaling fish and should be kept in groups of 6 or more. A higher ratio of females to males can help reduce aggression and encourage better male coloration.
Tank Mates: Peaceful and active, they pair well with other rainbowfish, large tetras, rasboras, corydoras, and peaceful barbs. Avoid very small shrimp, which may be seen as prey.
Origin: They are endemic to the Ayamaru Lakes region of West Papua, Indonesia.
SKU: RBM
