- Common name
- Boesemani rainbowfish
- Scientific name
- Melanotaenia boesemani
- Category
- Freshwater fish
- Group
- Rainbowfishes
- Environment
- Large freshwater aquarium with long open swimming space, planted margins and strong oxygenation
- Origin
- Ajamaru Lakes region of West Papua, Indonesia
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- Up to about 11 cm standard length
- Expected lifespan
- No dependable species-specific captive maximum was located; plan for approximately 8–12 years.
- Minimum housing
- At least 300 L with a 120 cm or longer footprint for eight or more fish
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
- pH
- Unknown; use stable source-matched water
- Hardness / minerals
- Unknown; stable source-matched mineral content
- Salinity
- Freshwater, 0 ppt; routine salt addition is not recommended
- Lighting
- Moderate to bright with planted shade
- Placement / zone
- Upper and middle water
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult boesemani rainbowfish group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow moderate with strong surface exchange across a 150 cm or longer open swimming footprint where the fish lives, and maintain undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable surface agitation and oxygen exchange at all times. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, heavy feeding or any sign of rapid breathing.
- Maintenance
- Perform regular matched-water changes guided by nitrate and waste, remove uneaten food and trapped detritus, clean mechanical media without disrupting the biofilter, and record feeding, body condition, respiration and aggression.
Identity and search names
Single-species profile for Melanotaenia boesemani. Preserve captive-line provenance and do not hybridise it with other rainbowfish.
Search names: Boeseman's rainbowfish
Environment and housing
Provide an uninterrupted swimming lane, planted margins, high oxygen, secure cover and strong biological filtration.
Social structure: Keep at least eight with more females than males or a balanced sex ratio
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Omnivore taking insects, zooplankton, plant material and prepared foods
Feeding routine: Offer varied floating and slowly sinking foods once or twice daily across the full swimming length.
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Plant or spawning-mop egg scatterer
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Single-species profile for Melanotaenia boesemani. Preserve captive-line provenance and do not hybridise it with other rainbowfish.
- Adult size and space
- Up to about 11 cm standard length. At least 300 L with a 120 cm or longer footprint for eight or more fish. Adult dimensions, activity and social structure matter more than sale size.
- Social structure
- Keep at least eight with more females than males or a balanced sex ratio
- Swimming zone or placement
- Primary zone: Upper and middle water. Keep that zone usable and provide escape routes, feeding access and uninterrupted movement appropriate to the species.
- Feeding ecology
- Omnivore taking insects, zooplankton, plant material and prepared foods
- Feeding plan
- Offer varied floating and slowly sinking foods once or twice daily across the full swimming length.
- Water stability
- Maintain 24–28 °C; pH: Unknown; use stable source-matched water; hardness/minerals: Unknown; stable source-matched mineral content. Stable temperature, oxygen and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing unsupported exact numbers.
- Habitat structure
- Provide an uninterrupted swimming lane, planted margins, high oxygen, secure cover and strong biological filtration.
- Compatibility plan
- Use active peaceful fish with matching water and temperature needs. Avoid aggressive species and cramped mixed-rainbowfish displays.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Plant or spawning-mop egg scatterer. Parental care: No parental care; adults may consume eggs and fry. Do not trigger reproduction without capacity for aggression, eggs, fry and rehoming.
- Quarantine
- Quarantine in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated nets, containers and siphons. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm normal feeding, respiration, skin, fins and waste, and never pour transport water into the established aquarium.
- Welfare checks
- Check shoal cohesion, body condition, colour, fin damage, respiration, feeding equality and whether the footprint permits normal sustained swimming.
- Biosecurity and release
- Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Check the exact accepted identity in current BICON and applicable South Australian rules before import, sale or movement; import eligibility does not authorise release or wild collection.
- Main risk
- Wild populations have a restricted range and serious conservation pressure. Use documented captive-bred stock and retain breeder or locality records.
- Adult projected load
- Project biological load from the full adult boesemani rainbowfish group, adult body mass, feeding pattern, activity and social requirement rather than juvenile sale size. A full adult shoal of large rainbowfish creates high biomass, activity, oxygen and feeding load.
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration sized for the complete adult boesemani rainbowfish group, with guarded intakes and accessible mechanical capture. Keep flow moderate with strong surface exchange across a 150 cm or longer open swimming footprint where the fish lives, and maintain undetectable ammonia and nitrite.
- Aeration
- Maintain reliable surface agitation and oxygen exchange at all times. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, heavy feeding or any sign of rapid breathing.
- Maintenance
- Perform regular matched-water changes guided by nitrate and waste, remove uneaten food and trapped detritus, clean mechanical media without disrupting the biofilter, and record feeding, body condition, respiration and aggression.
- Overridable warnings
- Non-overridable: do not accept persistent ammonia or nitrite, oxygen distress, starvation, chronic aggression or inadequate adult space. Different equipment, stocking or maintenance methods may be used only when measured water quality and adult welfare remain equivalent or better. Adult swimming length, a genuine group and strong oxygen cannot be reduced because juveniles are small.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Use active peaceful fish with matching water and temperature needs. Avoid aggressive species and cramped mixed-rainbowfish displays.
Welfare: Check shoal cohesion, body condition, colour, fin damage, respiration, feeding equality and whether the footprint permits normal sustained swimming.
Main warning: Wild populations have a restricted range and serious conservation pressure. Use documented captive-bred stock and retain breeder or locality records.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Check the exact accepted identity in current BICON and applicable South Australian rules before import, sale or movement; import eligibility does not authorise release or wild collection.