Boesemani Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia boesemani
Family: Melanotaeniidae • Origin: Oceania
Boesemani Rainbowfish are split-colored — blue front half fading to orange/yellow rear. Spectacular in morning light.
Min Tank
30 gal
Max Size
4.5"
Temperature
75-82°F
pH
7-8
Lifespan
8 years
School Size
6+
Swim Level
middle
Hardness
8-20 dGH
peacefulintermediateomnivoreschooling
Care Tips
- • Colors intensify with age
- • Best displayed in morning light
- • Keep in groups of 6+
- • Need open swimming space
- • Prefer hard alkaline water
Feeding: Flakes, pellets, frozen foods. Appreciates variety.
Compatibility Notes: Peaceful but active. Need open swimming space. Males display to each other in morning light.
Tank Setup & Water Parameters
Tank Requirements
- Minimum Tank Size
- 30 gallons
- Recommended Tank Size
- 55 gallons
- Swimming Level
- middle
- Minimum School Size
- 6+ fish
Water Parameters
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- pH Range
- 7–8
- Hardness (dGH)
- 8–20
- Water Type
- freshwater
Behavior & Temperament
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Aggression Level
- 1/5
- Schooling
- Yes
- Territorial
- No
- Fin Nipper
- No
- Predatory
- No
- Diet Type
- omnivore
- Growth Rate
- moderate
Peaceful but active. Need open swimming space. Males display to each other in morning light.
Breeding
- Breeding Type
- egg layer
- Breeding Difficulty
- moderate
- Lifespan
- 8 years
Ideal For
30 galloncommunitycenterpiece fish
Compatible Tank Mates
View all →
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
73-81°FpH 5.5-7.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+1.6"
Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
72-82°FpH 6-7.520+ gal
semi-aggressiveschooling 6+1.75"
Black Skirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
70-82°FpH 6-7.515+ gal
peacefulschooling 5+3"
Congo Tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
75-81°FpH 6-7.530+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+3.5"
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
72-82°FpH 6.8-7.810+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+2.5"
Endler's Livebearer
Poecilia wingei
72-82°FpH 6.5-85+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+1.5"
Similar Species
Red Rainbowfish
Glossolepis incisus
72-82°FpH 7-840+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+6"
Turquoise Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia lacustris
72-79°FpH 7-820+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+5"
Madagascar Rainbowfish
Bedotia geayi
72-79°FpH 6.5-7.520+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+5"
Electric Blue Acara
Andinoacara pulcher
72-82°FpH 6.5-7.530+ gal
peaceful6"