Species Profile | Images | Breeding Report | Similar Species
(Other members of the genus Melanotaenia)
ADULT SIZE: 14 cm
WATER CONDITIONS: Moderately hard and alkaline
TEMPERATURE RANGE: 23-27 C
FOOD: Feed Melanotaenia boesemani live and dried foods
DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Indonesia
SEXUAL DIFFERENCES: Male fish are more brightly coloured than females.
AQUARIUM CARE: Boesemans rainbow fish hails from the shallows of the Ajamaru lakes of Irian Jaya. It is an active fish, with spectacular colours; great for the larger community tank, at least 48" in length. As a shoaling fish, it should be kept in groups of at least six individuals, preferably more, and will do fine with other rainbows of a similar size.
BREEDING: Like most rainbows it prefers open water, with some plant matter at the edges, in which they will spawn. In a separate breeding tank spawning mops can be used, in order to collect the eggs, and raise the fry away from the adults. Fry can be fed powdered dry food from the start, but like all fish, welcome newly hatched artemia nauplii.
Have you bred Melanotaenia boesemani? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?, or examine existing Melanotaenia boesemani breeding reports
Other members of the genus Melanotaenia
Other rainbowfish species
Other species from Indonesia
Boesemans rainbow is a stunningly coloured fish, a reason why it is so popular in the aquarium hobby
These fish are very active, requiring a large tank in which to swim
BREEDING: Like most rainbows it prefers open water, with some plant matter at the edges, in which they will spawn. In a separate breeding tank spawning mops can be used, in order to collect the eggs, and raise the fry away from the adults. Fry can be fed powdered dry food from the start, but like all fish, welcome newly hatched artemia nauplii.
Have you bred Melanotaenia boesemani? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?
Sorry no records.
Many aquarium species are territorial; these should only be kept with other fish in a larger tank with space for each. In a well-stocked dealers tank there is no chance to set up a territory, but problems will arise once introduced into your home community aquarium
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