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Rainbowfish
/ Melanotaeniinae / Boeseman's Rainbowfish
Boeseman's Rainbowfish, Bicolor Rainbow, Boesemani
Melanotaenia boesemani | Pictures
Synonyms: None
Physical description:
An elongated species with lateral compression.
The rear edge of the caudal fin is concave
and there are two dorsal fins.
Fish begin to develop their colors at 2.4" (6 cm) which intensifies with age.
The
front half of the body of the male is bluish with three transverse blue stripes.
A lateral, blue stripe runs from the
mouth, through the eye, before fading near the caudal penuncle.
The rear half of the body is orange-yellow.
Females
are less colorful.
The first dorsal is blue-green while the second is yellow-orange with a blue and white
border.
The caudal fin is yellow-orange as is the anal fin which may have a violet border.
Size/Length: Males to 4.3" (11 cm), females to 3.2" (8 cm)
Similar species: None
Habitat: Inhabits shallow regions of dense vegetation in the Ajamaru Lakes in Irian Jaya (Indonesia).
S:middle, top
Aquarium: A 36" (91 cm) or 35-45 gallon (132-170 L) tank is sufficient.
Use dense plating along the sides and
back of the tank, and leave an open swimming area in the center.
Water chemistry: pH 7-9 (7.2), 6-20 dH (8), 77-86°F (25-30°C)
Social behavior: An active, schooling species suitable for a community tank.
Suggested companions: Barbs, tetras, danios, Gouramis, other Rainbows, Livebearers
FOOD: Live; insect larvae, crustaceans, worms, insects; flakes
SEX: Males are larger, higher backed, and more colorful with age.
Breeding techniques: Similar to Glossolepis.
The young are very small and grow slowly.
Start feeding with infusoria for the
first week, followed by fine-grade dry food.
After two weeks feed
Artemia nauplii.
Breeding potential: 7.
Breeding is moderately difficult due to the problematic feeding of the fry.
Remarks: Boeseman's Rainbowfish was first introduced into the hobby in 1982.
Difficulty of care: 5.
This active species requires frequent partial water changes to develop its splendid color.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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