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EveryFish
Image of the Melanotaenia boesemani , male red variety fish

Boeseman's rainbowfish

A colourful freshwater fish from West Papua lakes.

Photo: Eileen Kortright ( Roan Art ), CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Boeseman's rainbowfish is a freshwater species native to the Ayamaru Lakes in Indonesia. It features a striking two-tone colour pattern and is popular in home aquariums for its peaceful nature. The fish grows beyond ten centimetres and lives up to eight years on average.

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  • Endemic to Ayamaru Lakes in West Papua
  • Features distinct blue-front and red-rear colours
  • Grows beyond 10 cm in captivity
  • Peaceful community fish suitable for groups
  • Average lifespan of 5 to 8 years

What it is

Boeseman's rainbowfish belongs to the family Melanotaeniidae. It displays a unique colour pattern with a bluish-grey or purple front half and an orange-red rear. This division is often sharply defined. The fish can adjust its colour intensity, which may reflect its mood or health. Colours tend to appear more vivid at night. Adults typically grow larger than ten centimetres when provided with suitable water conditions and nutrition.

Where it lives

This species is endemic to a specific mountainous area in West Papua, Indonesia. It inhabits the Ayamaru Lakes and their surrounding tributaries on the Bird's Head Peninsula. The fish lives in freshwater environments within this restricted geographic range. It does not occur naturally in other regions of the world.

How it lives

These omnivores are not selective feeders but show a preference for meatier items. A balanced diet includes dry flakes, frozen foods, and live options such as brine shrimp and daphnia. Their mouths are small relative to their body size, so food particles must be appropriately sized. In captivity, they are hardy but susceptible to columnaris disease. They thrive in weakly alkaline water conditions.

Boeseman's rainbowfish
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Aquarium enthusiasts prize this fish for its vibrant appearance and calm temperament. It is best kept in groups with equal or greater numbers of females to males. Compatible tank mates include tetras, barbs, gouramis, and corydoras. While generally friendly, they may eat small freshwater shrimps from the Caridina and Neocaridina genera. Larger shrimp species can coexist if hiding spots are provided. Hobbyists report lifespans of five to eight years, with some individuals living up to fifteen years.

Boeseman's rainbowfish, Melanotaenia boesemani Allen & Cross, 1980, Natural History Museum University of Pisa
Boeseman's rainbowfish, Melanotaenia boesemani Allen & Cross, 1980, Natural History Museum University of Pisa. Photo: Mattia Nocciola, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Bosemani Rainbow in the Aquarium Hobby
A Bosemani Rainbow in the Aquarium Hobby. Photo: Madhav dam, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Boeseman's rainbowfish

What do Boeseman's rainbowfish eat?

They are omnivores that accept various foods but prefer meaty options. Offer krill flakes, dry pellets, frozen bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Ensure food sizes match their small mouths for optimal health.

Are they safe with shrimp?

They may prey on small freshwater shrimps like Caridina and Neocaridina. Larger species such as ghost or amano shrimp can coexist if added before the fish and provided with adequate hiding places.

How long do they live?

In aquariums, they typically live for five to eight years depending on water temperature. Some hobbyists have reported keeping them alive for thirteen to fifteen years under ideal conditions.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Boeseman's rainbowfish", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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