Boeseman's Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia boesemani (GR Allen & NJ Cross, 1980)
Range: Ayamaru - West Papua, Indonesia
Habitat: Mountain Freshwater Lakes and Tributaries
Diet: Small Aquatic Invertebrates, Algae
Social Grouping: Small Schools. Males become aggressive during breeding season
Reproduction: Breeding season peaks in August. Breed in pairs or small groups, males attracting females by flashing their colors. Females lay 10-20 eggs, which hatch after about two weeks.
Lifespan: 5-10 Years
Conservation Status: IUCN Endangered
- Adult coloration is bright blue-gray on the front half of the body, fading into a bright orange or red on the back half. The two halves are separated by a series of light-and-dark bars. Males are more brightly colored than females and juveniles
- Up to 12 centimeters in length, males considerably larger than females (average of 8 centimeters). Males also differ from females in having more elongated fins and deeper bodies
- Adults may be cannibalistic. Juvenile rainbowfish often spend their youth hiding in aquatic vegetation until they reach nearly adult size, at which they are large to safely emerge. Also eaten by other fish, as well as waterfowl
- Sometimes fished for and eaten by local people, but not a popular food item due to their taste - their consumption of ants gives their meat a taste of formic acid
- Species is named in honor of Dr. Marinus Boeseman, who collected the first specimens for science
- Naturally rare due to extremely limited range (three lakes, the largest of which is 14 square kilometers). Habitat has seen major fluctuations in water levels in recent years
- Sought after in aquarium trade for beautiful coloration - males especially have been collected heavily. Breed relatively easily in aquariums and are commercially farmed for sale in pet trade
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