Comportamento reprodutivo de Melanotênia Boesemani e fecundidade em três faixas de tamanho

It was registered the reproductive behavior of Boeseman's rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani Allen and Cross, 1980), comparing fecundity and fertility of individuals weghing between 1.437 g and 4.484 g, aiming at understand the reproductive characteristics of this high-value species among the ornamental fish commerce. It was observed that courtship and breeding behavior are identical for all the evaluated sizes and similar for those from the rainbowfish group. Through the multivariated analysis, it was noted the distribution of three size ranges – 48.7 mm (1.579 g; n = 6), 57.2 mm (2.619 g; n=8) and 65.8 (4.484 g; n=1) – with different results for reproductive characteristics. Females with medium size (57.2 mm) presented the best reproductive yield, with total average of 1,046 eggs within 32 days, being 691 the average of fecundated and viable eggs (66.1%).