Boesemani rainbowfish
Melanotaenia boesemani
FishFreshwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Minimum tank
- 200 L
- Maximum size
- 12 cm
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
- pH
- 7–8
- Group size
- ≥ 6
- Diet
- Omnivore
Care at a glance
The Boesemani rainbowfish has a colour split you can hardly believe on first sight: the front half blue-violet, the rear half orange-red, with a sharp transition in the middle. That colour only fully develops after a year or two, so young fish in the shop still look drab.
They are active, powerful swimmers that need length and only relax in a group. Males display to each other all day, which works out best when several are present — the fuss then spreads out. They like hard, slightly alkaline water and are otherwise undemanding. Cover the tank: rainbowfish jump.
Related species
Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.
In the BlubHub app you link your inhabitants to this database and see the care info next to your own water parameters.