Endler Livebearer Care Guide

Boesemani Rainbowfish are stunning, peaceful freshwater fish known for their two-tone coloration — bright blue front half and fiery orange or yellow rear. Native to lakes and rivers in West Papua (Indonesia), they thrive in spacious, well-maintained community aquariums.

🏡 Tank Setup

• Tank Size:

  • Minimum: 30 gallons for a small group

  • Ideal: 55+ gallons (they’re active swimmers and need horizontal space)

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 74–82°F (23–28°C)

  • pH: 7.0–8.0

  • Hardness: Moderate to hard (8–20 dGH)

  • Ammonia/Nitrites: 0 ppm

  • Nitrates: < 30 ppm

• Filtration:
  Use a strong, well-oxygenated filter — they prefer clean, moving water

• Substrate & Décor:

  • Sand or gravel

  • Add rocks, driftwood, and planted areas for security

  • Keep open swimming space in the middle and top levels

• Lighting:
  Moderate to high — enhances color and supports live plants

👨‍👩‍👧 Tank Mates

Boesemani Rainbowfish are peaceful and social, best kept in groups and with other gentle tankmates.

• Ideal tank mates:

  • Other rainbowfish

  • Tetras (larger types like Congo or Black Skirt)

  • Corydoras, loaches

  • Gouramis

  • Peaceful barbs (e.g., cherry barbs)

  • Peaceful livebearers

  • Plecos or snails

• Avoid:

  • Fin-nippers (e.g., tiger barbs)

  • Slow, delicate fish (like fancy guppies or bettas)

  • Aggressive cichlids

🐟 Social Behavior

• Schooling fish — keep at least 6 to reduce stress and bring out their best colors and behavior

• Males will display and flash colors when courting or establishing rank

🍽️ Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous
  Feed a variety of high-quality foods:

  • Flakes or micro pellets (color-enhancing is great)

  • Live or frozen foods: brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms

  • Spirulina-based foods or blanched veggies (occasionally)

• Feeding Frequency:
  1–2 times per day; only what they consume in ~2 minutes

🧬 Breeding

Boesemanis are egg scatterers, not livebearers.

• Sexing:

  • Males: Brighter colors, deeper bodies

  • Females: More silver-gray, smaller and rounder

• Breeding Tips:

  • Use a separate spawning tank with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops

  • Condition with live/frozen food

  • Eggs hatch in ~7 days; fry need infusoria or powdered food

Breeding in a community tank is unlikely due to egg and fry predation.

🧼 Maintenance

• Weekly:

  • 30–50% water changes

  • Gravel vacuuming

  • Check filter and flow

• Monthly:

  • Rinse filter media in tank water

  • Trim plants as needed

⚠️ Common Issues

• Poor coloration or lethargy:
  Often due to poor water quality, stress, or too small a group

• Overfeeding:
  Leads to obesity and water fouling — be conservative

• Fin rot or fungus:
  Rare with good care, but maintain water quality and quarantine new fish

💡 Tips for Success

• Boesemanis color up as they mature — expect peak coloration after 9–12 months

• Avoid mixing with overly aggressive or slow-moving species

• Keep the tank covered — they’re strong jumpers

• A planted tank with open swimming space is ideal

❤️ Final Thoughts

Boesemani Rainbowfish are breathtaking, hardy, and peaceful fish that make a perfect centerpiece for a community aquarium. With proper care, they can live 5–8 years, grow up to 4 inches, and bring life and color to your tank.