Boesemani Rainbow Fish (Melanotaenia boesemani)

Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani)

Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) are one of the most recognizable rainbowfish in the hobby. They are active, constantly moving, and become absolutely stunning as they mature, especially males, with the classic blue/purple front half and bright orange/yellow rear half. In a group, they bring a lot of movement and color to larger planted and display aquariums.

At Legacy Line Aquatics, these fish are bred and raised in-house by me in a small-scale, care-first setup. I do not source from mass-production fish farms. My focus is on raising healthy fish with clean water, proper nutrition, and attentive day-to-day care, so you receive fish I’d be confident keeping in my own fish room.

Why Hobbyists Love Boesemani Rainbowfish

• Brilliant adult coloration, especially mature males

• Active schooling behavior that brings life to larger tanks

• Great display fish for planted/community setups

• Hardy and rewarding when kept in proper groups

• Excellent choice for hobbyists wanting a larger rainbowfish species

Temperament & Behavior

Boesemani Rainbowfish are active, social, and generally peaceful. They do best in groups and show better color and behavior when kept with enough of their own kind. Males will display and spar with each other, which is normal behavior and part of what makes them so enjoyable to keep.

They do best in tanks with:

• Open swimming space

• Good oxygenation and steady filtration

• Some plants or hardscape for visual balance

• A secure lid (rainbowfish can jump)

Tank Size (Recommended)

• Juvenile grow-out group: 55 gallon recommended

• Adult group: 75 gallons+ preferred for best movement and display

• Best kept in groups of 6+ (more space is better)

Water Temperature

• Ideal range: 75–80°F

• A stable temperature is more important than chasing an exact number

Tank Mates (Good Choices)

Best tank mates are peaceful to semi-active fish that can handle their movement level without being aggressive.

Good tank mates may include:

• Other peaceful rainbowfish species (similar size)

• Corydoras in larger setups

• Peaceful larger tetras

• Peaceful loaches in appropriate setups

• Calm cichlids in larger, well-structured tanks (species-dependent)

Avoid:

• Fin-nippers

• Highly aggressive cichlids

• Very slow, delicate fish that may be stressed by constant activity

• Very small fish that may be outcompeted at feeding time

Feeding

These fish thrive on a varied diet. A rotation of quality foods helps with growth, color, and condition.

Recommended foods:

• High-quality flakes and pellets

• Frozen foods (brine shrimp, mysis, bloodworms as treats)

• Live foods (optional, but excellent for conditioning and growth)

What You’re Getting from Legacy Line Aquatics

When you purchase from me, you’re getting fish that were bred and raised in-house, not mass-imported and flipped. I take a small-scale approach so I can focus on:

• Fish health

• Clean systems

• Proper feeding, mixture of high quality sinking pellets, live baby brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, and high quality flakes.

• Parasite free

That matters—especially with rainbowfish.

Local Delivery 

• Delivery is available within an 80-mile maximum distance from Owensboro, Kentucky.
• $150 minimum order is required for delivery 
• $25 delivery fee applies 

Local Meet-Up 

• Local meet-up is available. 
• After order we will contact you by email, or through Facebook or Instagram Messenger.
• We will arrange a date, time, and public location to meet. 

Shipping & Live Arrival

Live fish are shipped Monday–Wednesday (weather permitting) to reduce transit risk. Please review our How Shipping Works page and DOA policy before ordering.