Boeseman's rainbowfish
Melanotaenia boesemani
A two-tone rainbowfish, blue-violet in front and orange behind; needs warm, hard, alkaline water and a long tank.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3.5 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 34 gallons
- Group
- 6+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Flakes, micro pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp
- Origin
- Ayamaru Lakes, West New Guinea
- Hardier than17%
- Bigger than55%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Boeseman's rainbowfish tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusBoeseman's rainbowfish outcompetes the slow-eating Otocinclus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- BettaFast rainbows stress slow bettas.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidBoeseman's rainbowfish outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Boeseman's rainbowfish.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Boeseman's rainbowfish.Risky
- DiscusBoeseman's rainbowfish outcompetes the slow-eating Discus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Boeseman's rainbowfish: prey body depth 3.6 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Boeseman's rainbowfish: prey body depth 3.6 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Boeseman's rainbowfish: prey body depth 3.6 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Boeseman's rainbowfish: prey body depth 3.6 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for Boeseman's rainbowfish: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 9 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 17.60 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 7.27 BU
- Min. water
- 108 L net
- Min. footprint
- 120 × 30 cm per group
- Min. height
- 30 cm
- Group
- 6+ (best 8)
- Swims in
- middle, top
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- deep bodied, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Melanotaenia boesemani · FishBase: Melanotaenia boesemani
Care notes
Boeseman's rainbowfish come from the Ayamaru Lakes of West New Guinea, where the water is hard and alkaline. The full colour shows only in adult males, which display to each other.
Keep six to eight in a tank at least 4 feet long, about 29 gallons, at 81–86°F. A lid is a good idea, and their speed can stress small or slow tank mates.
Questions
What size tank does a boeseman's rainbowfish need?
At least 34 gallons (108 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3.5 inches without fins.
How many Boeseman's rainbowfish should be kept together?
Keep at least 6, ideally 8 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do Boeseman's rainbowfish need?
81–86 °F, pH 7–8 and 10–20 dGH. Boeseman's rainbowfish come from Ayamaru Lakes, West New Guinea.
How long do Boeseman's rainbowfish live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with Boeseman's rainbowfish?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Cherry shrimp. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.