Aquarist Species:  Melanotaenia ajamaruensis

Aquarist: NickCondonFish

Species Profile: Melanotaenia ajamaruensis

Common Name:   Ayamaru Rainbowfish

Description:   First discovered in 1955 it wasn't until 1980 that it was properly described. An expedition in 1982 to Lake Ajamaru yielded no specimens found. It wasn't until 2007 that they were rediscovered in the Kali Wensi River system, a loosely connected river to Lake Ajamaru. They are closely related to Melanotaenia boesemani and were originally mistaken as female boesemani.

Category:   Rainbowfish

Global Region:   Southeast Asia

Distribution:   Kali Wensi, West Papua

CARES Status:   Critically Endangered

Aquarist Notes

Genetic Line:   FX 3rd or more Generation

Year Acquired:   2025

My fish were sourced from an import from Indonesia in 2025. They are exceptionally stunning when displaying.