Choosing Rasboras

Digg   Del.icio.us   Stumble   Share

See Larger Image

Rasboras are all you need to fill your tank with living color. Few freshwater tropical fish are as bright, animated, peaceable and easy to care for. Members of the same Cyprinid family as tetras, rasboras come from south and southeast Asia where they live in slow moving streams, dense with vegetation. When well-fed (and these little fish can eat a great deal) and in good condition, these fish display sharp bright background hues, that seem to be illuminated from within, and distinctive black markings.

Varieties

While some dozen species are imported, a few of the most popular and easy to find are the harlequin rasboras, the red-lined rasbora, the scissortail, the two-spot and the pygmy. They vary in color and size.

Two-spot. The two-spot is a pale-white fish with a dark spot at the center of its body. This variety is one of the largest, measuring up to eight inches in length. As with the scissortail variety, if you are going to keep a school, its best to have a longer tank in which they can roam.

Rasboras Need to School

Rasboras are schooling fish and so the fish and your tank will suffer from having only one or two. Begin with no fewer than three and, once these are acclimated to the tank, add another few to the school. Seven or eight of these lovely fish swimming together in a well-planted aquarium will be great fun to watch. You may even decide, as some aquarists do, to add to the school and keep only rasboras in your tank.

Easy fish to maintain, rasboras do well at temperatures of around 74 degrees Fahrenheit and don't seem to suffer if the temperature changes a couple of degrees above or below that. The tank's pH should be a moderate 6.5, erring, if anything, to the acidic side since the streams they live in are usually choked with decaying vegetation, which raises the acidity of the water.

Rasboras are insectivorous but do very well on fine flake food. They have good appetites but as with any aquarium fish, feeding a little at a time more often is better than giving a lot at once. When that happens, uneaten food sinks to the bottom of the tank and decomposes there.

 

Printable Version

Digg   Del.icio.us   Stumble   Share

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

 

Have a Pet Question?

Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

 

 

Related Articles

Search Over 15,000 articles

• 1 Top 20 Freshwater Fish

  Building a successful aquarium involves more than just selecting fish on the basis of appearance alone. This guide profiles the 20 most popular freshwater fish. Use it as a summary, then head to your local...

  Read More
• 2 Why Fish Swim in Schools

  Around the reefs thousands of schooling silversides dart back and forth, all in unison, seemingly to some internal melody that only the fish can hear. It’s one of nature’s most beautiful ballets. And you...

  Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens