Melanotaenia boesemani
Half steel-blue, half tangerine, looks like two fish welded together. Males peak in colour when displaying to rivals, so keep at least three males in a group of six-plus. Wants hard alkaline water; do not try to push them into Amazon parameters.
Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) reaches 9–11 cm as an adult and needs a minimum tank of 150 L. Native to Ayamaru Lakes, West Papua, Indonesia, it lives in the mid to top water column with a peaceful (active) temperament. Aim for 24–30 °C, pH 7.0–8.0, and 8–20 dGH hardness. Lifespan is 5–8 years with good care. Keep boesemani rainbowfish in groups of 6+, yes schoolers need numbers to display natural behaviour. Diet: omnivore, Quality flake with colour enhancers, micro pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp. Vary the diet to keep both halves of the body coloured up. Plant-safe: Yes. Shrimp-safe: No.
Care at a glance
Half steel-blue, half tangerine, looks like two fish welded together. Males peak in colour when displaying to rivals, so keep at least three males in a group of six-plus. Wants hard alkaline water; do not try to push them into Amazon parameters.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to aquarium fish for the planted tank.
The parameters that decide whether boesemani rainbowfish fits in your tank.
Mid to Top
Yes
Group of 6+
Melanotaeniidae
Omnivore
Quality flake with colour enhancers, micro pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp. Vary the diet to keep both halves of the body coloured up.
5–8 yrs
Medium
Ayamaru Lakes, West Papua, Indonesia
Ayamaru Lakes, West Papua, Indonesia
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) needs a minimum tank of 150 L. They live in the mid to top water column and should be kept in groups of 6+, so a longer footprint matters more than depth.
Target 24–30 °C, pH 7.0–8.0, and 8–20 dGH hardness. Acclimate slowly when moving them between water sources.
Shrimp safety: No. Plant safety: Yes.
Boesemani Rainbowfish are omnivore. Quality flake with colour enhancers, micro pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp. Vary the diet to keep both halves of the body coloured up.
On Fin & Stem's 1–5 difficulty scale this species rates 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled. Breeding difficulty: medium.
Typical lifespan in a well-maintained tank is 5–8 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this fish with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
