Boesemani Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia boesemani

Half ocean-blue, half sunset-orange, as if painted by two different artists. Colours peak in the morning light.

A peaceful freshwater fish that grows to 10 cm, lives in the middle of the tank in groups of 5 or more and needs 24–29 °C, pH 7.0–8.2 and an aquarium of at least 120 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

24–29 °C (75–84 °F)

pH

7.0–8.2

Adult size

10 cm (3.9 in)

Aquarium

120 L or bigger (32 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

5 or more

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Lake Ayamaru, West Papua

Good to know

• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Bristlenose Pleco, Clown Loach, Corydoras, Dwarf Gourami, Honey Gourami, Marbled Hatchetfish, Otocinclus, Pearl Gourami, Siamese Algae Eater, Zebra Danio.

Will eat: Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Ember Tetra, Neocaridina Shrimp.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Flowerhorn, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Eats the newborn fry of: Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Congo Tetra, Corydoras, Demasoni Cichlid, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish and 22 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Ghost Knifefish, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra, Electric Blue Acara, Fancy Goldfish, Firemouth Cichlid, Frontosa and 10 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Classic rare

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.