Product Details

Red Boesemani Rainbowfish – Melanotaenia boesemani “Lake Aitinjo”

Overview:

The Red Boesemani Rainbowfish “Lake Aitinjo” is a premium locality form of Boeseman’s Rainbowfish, prized for its intense mature male colour and active shoaling behaviour. Compared with standard Boesemani types, the Lake Aitinjo strain is especially valued for rich red-orange rear body colour, strong contrast and deep blue to purplish tones toward the front of the fish. This is a peaceful but energetic rainbowfish for a spacious planted aquarium with clean, well-oxygenated water and a proper group.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Red Boesemani Rainbowfish
Other Names: Lake Aitinjo Boesemani, Lake Aytinjo Rainbowfish, Red Boesemani, Boeseman’s Rainbowfish, Bicolour Rainbowfish
Scientific Name: Melanotaenia boesemani “Lake Aitinjo”
Fish Type: Rainbowfish
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

The Lake Aitinjo form is associated with Lake Aitinjo / Aytinjo in West Papua, Indonesia. The wider species, Melanotaenia boesemani, is naturally restricted to the Ajamaru Lakes region of the Vogelkop Peninsula, with FishBase also recording it from Aitinjo Lake.

Boesemani Rainbowfish occur in lake and tributary habitats with clear freshwater, aquatic vegetation and open swimming areas. A rainbowfish article on the Lake Aitinjo form describes the species from the waters and tributaries of Lakes Ayamaru, Hain and Aitinjo in the Vogelkop Peninsula of Western New Guinea. In the aquarium, this means they appreciate clean water, good oxygenation, plants around the edges and plenty of midwater swimming room.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Mature males are the highlight of this strain, typically showing a darker blue to purple front half and a vivid orange-red to red rear half. Females and young fish are usually more silver, yellow or bronze, with colour improving steadily as the fish mature. Males become deeper-bodied with age and display more strongly when kept with females and rival males.

Adults usually reach around 10–12 cm, with larger males becoming chunky and powerful swimmers. Some European trade listings for the red Lake Aitinjo form also give an adult size of around 10–12 cm.

Aquarium Suitability:

This is an excellent rainbowfish for a larger planted community aquarium, New Guinea-style display or mixed rainbowfish setup. It needs open swimming space through the middle of the tank, with plants, wood or décor around the edges for security. It is peaceful, but active, so it is not ideal for very small tanks, shy nano fish or slow delicate species that may be unsettled at feeding time.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 240 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 120 cm recommended. Larger aquariums are preferred for adult males, mixed rainbowfish groups or stronger display behaviour. German aquarium guidance for Lake Aitinjo Boesemani also recommends groups in aquariums from around 120 cm length upward.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 25–29°C
pH: 7.0–8.0
Hardness: Moderately hard to hard preferred
Additional Notes: Provide clean, well-filtered and well-oxygenated water with regular partial water changes. FishBase lists Melanotaenia boesemani at 27–30°C, pH 7.0–8.0 and hardness 9–19 dH, so this species should not be kept in very soft, acidic blackwater conditions long term. Stability, oxygenation and maintenance are key to colour and health.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Red Boesemani Rainbowfish are peaceful but fast and energetic. Suitable tank mates include other rainbowfish, larger tetras, danios, peaceful barbs, robust rasboras, Cory-type catfish, bristlenose plecs, peaceful loaches and calm medium-sized cichlids that enjoy similar water chemistry.

Avoid aggressive cichlids, persistent fin-nippers, very shy fish and tiny tank mates that may be intimidated by active feeding behaviour. Keep in a group of at least 6, with 8 or more preferred. A mixed-sex group gives the best display, as males colour up most strongly when competing and courting.

Feeding:

Red Boesemani Rainbowfish are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality flakes, small floating or slow-sinking granules and rainbowfish pellets as the staple. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brineshrimp, cyclops, mosquito larvae and bloodworm. Include vegetable or algae-based foods for balance. Feed measured portions, as Boesemani Rainbowfish are eager feeders and can become overweight if overfed.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This species spends most of its time in the middle and upper levels, moving in a loose group through open water. Mature males display with raised fins and intensified colour, especially in the morning, after water changes or when females are nearby. They are lively rather than aggressive, but their constant movement makes them best suited to confident community fish.

Care Notes:

Keep in a mature aquarium with stable water, strong filtration and a secure lid, as rainbowfish can jump when startled. Do not keep singly or in pairs, as small numbers are more nervous and less colourful. Young Red Boesemani often arrive looking less intense than adults, so allow time for colour to develop. Locality forms such as Lake Aitinjo should not be mixed with other M. boesemani lines if breeding may occur, as this can lose the strain identity.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Occasional / Specialist rainbowfish strain / Captive-bred when available

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern and markings can occur between individual fish.