Clown Rasbora
Rasbora kalochroma
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 243 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
Species profile
Chili Rasbora
Boraras brigittae
Common names: Chili Rasbora, Mosquito Rasbora, Mosquito Fish
Recognized speciesRasboras
Adult size
Up to 2 cm
Typical adult length 1.5–2 cm.
Up to 2 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A heavily planted nano aquarium
- A shrimp tank where fish need to be very small
- A soft-water blackwater-style setup
Think carefully if
- Your water is hard or alkaline
- Your tankmates have large mouths
- You rely on an unguarded filter intake
A tiny red and black rasbora from Borneo that reaches only about 2 cm. It suits well-planted nano aquariums and is one of the safest fish to keep with dwarf shrimp.
Appearance and Identification
A tiny, slender fish with a deep red body and a dark lateral stripe, along with red and black marks on the fins. Dominant males show the most intense colour.
Several similar Boraras species are sold under this name or as Phoenix Rasbora. Care is much the same, and the differences are in the exact pattern.
Females are rounder-bellied and often slightly larger. Males are more colourful, and dominant males show intense colour.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 80–120 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 40 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 45 cm
- Minimum group size
- 8
- Recommended group size
- 10
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Very low
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Use dense plants, leaf litter, and dim light with a gentle sponge filter. Open intakes and strong flow are a real danger to such a small fish.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A very peaceful fish that holds loose groups among plants. Males display to each other without harm.
Keep at least 8 to 10. Bigger groups show better colour and settle more quickly.
Dominant males may display, but this is harmless.
Best alone or with very small, peaceful fish and dwarf shrimp. Adult shrimp are safe, though the smallest shrimplets may occasionally be taken. Do not keep with larger fish.
Water Parameters
Soft, acidic water is best. Peat or leaf litter can help, but avoid pushing the pH down quickly.
Parameter caveat
Small tanks change quickly. Dose carefully, change water gently, and keep ammonia and nitrite at zero.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Preferred foods
- Crushed micro granulesUse the smallest size available, because standard granules are too large.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpAn excellent food, and well worth the effort for conditioning.
- Frozen cyclops or micro daphniaChoose very small items and thaw them before feeding.
A micropredator that eats tiny invertebrates and needs very small food.
Feed small amounts because leftovers quickly affect water quality in a small tank.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Scatterer
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Breeding pH
- 6
- Brood or egg count
- A few eggs per day
- Incubation
- 2 days
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- Infusoria or parameciumNeeded for the first days after fry become free-swimming, because the fry are very small.
- Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly as a supplement, and siphon out anything left uneaten.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce once the fry are large enough to swallow it, usually after several days.
- MicrowormsA useful next step for fry that are still too small for brine shrimp.
An egg-scattering continuous spawner with no parental care. Breeders use separate containers at pH 5 to 6.5 with very soft water. Fry hatch about two days after spawning and need the smallest live foods.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Borneo, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Natural habitat
- Blackwater, Freshwater Stream, Swamp
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Nano Aquarium, Planted Aquarium, Shrimp Tank
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Boraras
- Family
- Danionidae
- Species group
- Fish, Rasboras
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Dwarf Rasbora
Boraras maculatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 2.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Dwarf Scissortail Rasbora
Rasbosoma spilocerca
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 litres
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C
Emerald Eye Rasbora
Brevibora dorsiocellata
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 2.3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 litres
- Temperature
- 20–25 °C