Moderate

Boesemani Rainbowfish

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Melanotaenia boesemani

Complete Boesemani Rainbowfish care guide covering omnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 55 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

Boesemani Rainbowfish

Quick Answer

Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) is a classic species with a striking split color pattern: blue-purple front and orange-red rear.. It requires a minimum 55 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 7.0 - 8.0 and temperature range of 24-28°C. This omnivore occupies the middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) is a classic species with a striking split color pattern: blue-purple front and orange-red rear.

Setup

A 55-gallon or larger tank with open swimming space and plants. Good filtration and regular water changes. They appreciate some current.

Feeding

Omnivorous; accepts flakes, pellets, frozen mysis, brine shrimp, and vegetable matter. Color-enhancing foods bring out their vibrancy.

Compatibility

Peaceful. Keep in schools of 6+. Good with other rainbowfish, barbs, danios, tetras, and peaceful cichlids.

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Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
24-28°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
7.0 - 8.0

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Leaf Fish Care Guide: Diet & Tank Mates semanticSimilarity Angelfish Care Guide: Tank Size & Diet | The Aquarium Calculators semanticSimilarity Badis Care Guide: Tank Size & Compatibility semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Boesemani Rainbowfish should be kept together?
Maintain a minimum school of 8 to 10 individuals in a tank of at least 55 gallons (208 liters) with a footprint of 48x15 inches (120x38 cm). Boesemani rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) require a balanced mix of males and females (1 male:2 females) to display their bright blue and orange colors. Groups under 6 cause males to harass females to exhaustion. Provide open swimming lanes and dark substrate to enhance coloration. Tank length must exceed 4 feet (120 cm) to accommodate their rapid, continuous swimming. Avoid tall tanks (less than 18 inches/45 cm height).
What are the precise water parameters for Boesemani Rainbowfish?
Target pH 7.0 - 8.0, General Hardness 8 - 15 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 6 - 12 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 200 - 400 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 400 - 800 μS/cm, and temperature 75°F - 82°F (24°C - 28°C). They prefer hard, alkaline water; soft water (dGH <4) causes clamped fins and loss of color. Maintain nitrates below 15 ppm with weekly 25% water changes. Use a canister filter with high flow (10x turnover). Add crushed coral to increase hardness if needed. Avoid pH drops below 6.5.
What is the nutritional and medication protocol for Boesemani Rainbowfish?
They are active omnivores requiring 45% protein, 12% fat, 43% plant matter. Feed high-protein flakes (New Life Spectrum) or micro-pellets twice daily, supplemented with frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms. Offer spirulina flakes and blanched spinach daily. They have small throats; ensure pellet size under 1 mm. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.2 mg/L) but sensitive to formalin. Praziquantel is safe. Salt baths up to 5 ppt treat external parasites. Quarantine with methylene blue for 7 days. Avoid nitrofurazone.
How to breed Boesemani Rainbowfish with environmental triggers?
Condition a group of 10 (1 male:2 female ratio) with live blackworms and brine shrimp for 3 weeks. Set up a 20-gallon (75 liter) breeding tank with 8 inches (20 cm) of water (pH 7.5, dGH 10, 78°F/25.5°C), a spawning mop, and java moss. Simulate sunrise with gradual light increase over 1 hour. Spawning occurs in early morning; female lays 50-200 adhesive eggs daily over several days. Remove parents every 2 days. Eggs hatch in 7-10 days at 75°F (24°C). Fry are 0.15 inches (4 mm); feed infusoria for 3 days, then baby brine shrimp and microworms. Grow-out requires frequent water changes.

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