fishenthusiast
Mar 10th 2007, 10:47 AM
Common name: Boeseman's Rainbowfish, Boesmani Rainbows
Scientific name: Melanotaenia Boesemani
Family: Melanotaeniidae
Origin: New Guinea
Adult size: While it is possible for the Boesmani to reach 15 cm, sizes of 10 cm for the males and 8 cm for the females are far more common in the aquarium trade. In addition to growing larger than the females, the males have a much deeper body.
Tank Specs
Minimum Tank Size: These fish are extremely active and enjoy having a lot of swimming space. I keep
Water Parameters (PH/GH): Originally collected from areas with a pH level ranging from 6.4 to in excess of 8.0. I have found success with breeding the Boesmani in water with a ph of around 6.5. They prefer water that is soft to slightly hard, a GH of less than 100.
Temperature: The Boesmani Rainbow is a tropical fish and enjoys temperatures ranging from 24-30° Celsius.Suitable Tank mates: I have found that the Boesmani Rainbow is a very good community fish. Their mouths and throats are too small for even neons and as such, they can be kept with a wide variety of other fish. I have successfully kept the rainbows with dwarf neon rainbows, angelfish, gouramis, Siamese algae eaters, neons, and otos.
Minimum Group Size: The Boesmani Rainbow enjoy being in groups and will display their most natural behaviour if kept in groups of 6 or more. As the males can be quite aggressive while courting/breeding, it is recommended to keep 2 males per female. The males will chase each other as well as the female, giving the female a break. It is common to see nipped fins and/or damaged scales, which can be attributed to their aggressive breeding style.
Diet: The Boesmani are an omnivorous fish which should be fed a variety of foods. It is recommended that the fish be fed vegetable matter in some way to aid in digestion. This can be achieved by offering a good vegetable/spirulina based food, or by offering fresh vegetables like peas, lettuce, baby bok choy or other green vegetables.
Sexing: Extremely easy. Males are bi-coloured. Their head and front portion of the body are bluish gray, sometimes almost black depending on the lighting conditions and their mood. The latter half of the fish including the fins and tail ranges in colour, from yellow to brilliant orange to almost red. Both sexes display alternating dark and light vertical bars just behind the pectoral fins. The females of the species have a dark mid-lateral stripe accompanied by smaller, narrow stripes that range in colour from yellow to orange.
Breeding and Reproduction: The Boesmani Rainbow are egg scatterers, and can lay up to 200 eggs over a period of days. The male initiates spawning by deepening his colours and putting on a display for the female. If the female responds they will spawn on available plants, or if provided, a spawning mop. The eggs are sticky and will adhere to either the plants or the mops. Eggs take 6-7 days to hatch at temperatures of 24-26° Celsius. The fry are extremely small, and difficult to raise. Feed initially on infusoria, and once big enough, microworms or baby brine shrimp. Visit this site for detailed information on breeding this fish. (http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:foG_Jox1bgYJ:www.rainbowfishes.org/carybreeding.html+Melanotaenia+boesemani+breeding&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=ca)
Below is a photo of 2 male Boesmani
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/Fishenthusiast/Rainbows2.jpg
© May not be reproduced without permission of the writer
Scientific name: Melanotaenia Boesemani
Family: Melanotaeniidae
Origin: New Guinea
Adult size: While it is possible for the Boesmani to reach 15 cm, sizes of 10 cm for the males and 8 cm for the females are far more common in the aquarium trade. In addition to growing larger than the females, the males have a much deeper body.
Tank Specs
Minimum Tank Size: These fish are extremely active and enjoy having a lot of swimming space. I keep
Water Parameters (PH/GH): Originally collected from areas with a pH level ranging from 6.4 to in excess of 8.0. I have found success with breeding the Boesmani in water with a ph of around 6.5. They prefer water that is soft to slightly hard, a GH of less than 100.
Temperature: The Boesmani Rainbow is a tropical fish and enjoys temperatures ranging from 24-30° Celsius.Suitable Tank mates: I have found that the Boesmani Rainbow is a very good community fish. Their mouths and throats are too small for even neons and as such, they can be kept with a wide variety of other fish. I have successfully kept the rainbows with dwarf neon rainbows, angelfish, gouramis, Siamese algae eaters, neons, and otos.
Minimum Group Size: The Boesmani Rainbow enjoy being in groups and will display their most natural behaviour if kept in groups of 6 or more. As the males can be quite aggressive while courting/breeding, it is recommended to keep 2 males per female. The males will chase each other as well as the female, giving the female a break. It is common to see nipped fins and/or damaged scales, which can be attributed to their aggressive breeding style.
Diet: The Boesmani are an omnivorous fish which should be fed a variety of foods. It is recommended that the fish be fed vegetable matter in some way to aid in digestion. This can be achieved by offering a good vegetable/spirulina based food, or by offering fresh vegetables like peas, lettuce, baby bok choy or other green vegetables.
Sexing: Extremely easy. Males are bi-coloured. Their head and front portion of the body are bluish gray, sometimes almost black depending on the lighting conditions and their mood. The latter half of the fish including the fins and tail ranges in colour, from yellow to brilliant orange to almost red. Both sexes display alternating dark and light vertical bars just behind the pectoral fins. The females of the species have a dark mid-lateral stripe accompanied by smaller, narrow stripes that range in colour from yellow to orange.
Breeding and Reproduction: The Boesmani Rainbow are egg scatterers, and can lay up to 200 eggs over a period of days. The male initiates spawning by deepening his colours and putting on a display for the female. If the female responds they will spawn on available plants, or if provided, a spawning mop. The eggs are sticky and will adhere to either the plants or the mops. Eggs take 6-7 days to hatch at temperatures of 24-26° Celsius. The fry are extremely small, and difficult to raise. Feed initially on infusoria, and once big enough, microworms or baby brine shrimp. Visit this site for detailed information on breeding this fish. (http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:foG_Jox1bgYJ:www.rainbowfishes.org/carybreeding.html+Melanotaenia+boesemani+breeding&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=ca)
Below is a photo of 2 male Boesmani
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/Fishenthusiast/Rainbows2.jpg
© May not be reproduced without permission of the writer