Head to head
Boesemani Rainbowfish vs Celebes Rainbowfish
Boesemani Rainbowfish
VS Celebes Rainbowfish
The boesemani rainbowfish and the celebes rainbowfish are both striking Indonesian-region fish popular in aquariums, but they differ in fin shape, taxonomic placement, and how much conservation concern each currently faces.
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Celebes Rainbowfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Melanotaenia boesemani | Marosatherina ladigesi |
| Colouring | Sharp split, blue-grey front, orange-yellow rear | Pale yellow body with blue-black fin trim |
| Fins | Not unusually elongated | Unusually long, flag-like fins |
| Genus | Melanotaenia | Its own genus, Marosatherina |
| Native range | Lake Ayamaru, West Papua, Indonesia | The island of Sulawesi, Indonesia |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Social structure | Schooling fish | Schooling fish |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Least Concern |
Boesemani Rainbowfish vs Celebes Rainbowfish: common questions
Which rainbowfish has unusually long fins, the boesemani or the celebes?
The celebes rainbowfish, which has unusually long, flowing dorsal and anal fins for such a small fish, a feature the boesemani rainbowfish does not share.
Which is more endangered, the boesemani or the celebes rainbowfish?
The boesemani rainbowfish, which is Endangered due to its extremely restricted single-lake range, while the celebes rainbowfish remains Least Concern.
Are the boesemani and celebes rainbowfish in the same genus?
No, the boesemani rainbowfish belongs to the large genus Melanotaenia, while the celebes rainbowfish is distinctive enough to be placed in its own genus, Marosatherina.