Family: Melanotaeniidae
Boeseman's Rainbowfish — a Melanotaeniidae from N Australia & New Guinea, peaceful but energetic; needs open swimming room. Reaches 6.8–9.9 cm; shoaling; 8+ in a long tank unlocks full colour. 27–30 °C.
Melanotaenia boesemani, a member of the family Melanotaeniidae, comes from N Australia & New Guinea, where it inhabits warm freshwater streams and lakes. Peaceful but energetic; needs open swimming room and eager eater; varied diet maintains iridescence, it grows to 6.8–9.9 cm and adapts well to a properly set-up aquarium in the 27–30 °C range. Other Melanotaenia species in our database include Melanotaenia praecox.
A moderate-level species: peaceful but energetic; needs open swimming room; stable water matters more than fancy equipment.
Set the heater to 27–30 °C and avoid swings. pH 7–8, GH 9–19 dGH suit it.
Expect 6.8–9.9 cm as an adult, living bottom-dwelling. A 118 L tank or larger gives it room.
Eager eater; varied diet maintains iridescence. Vary the menu — quality flakes or pellets plus frozen or live foods.
Peaceful but energetic; needs open swimming room. Recommended tankmates: Robust peaceful cyprinids — Add motion without menace. Avoid Small timid fish — Outcompeted at feeding time.
Comes from N Australia & New Guinea: warm freshwater streams and lakes. Expect still to gentle current and moderate oxygen levels.
Not a noted jumper — a standard cover still keeps dust and spray in.
Spawns among plants at dawn; no parental care. Subtle external differences.