Spotted Rasbora

Spotted Rasbora is a very peaceful species. This fish lives for 3-5 years. Its scientific name is Boraras maculates. It grows to the size of 2.5 cms or an inch. Other than Spotted Rasbora its common names are Dwarf Rasbora and Pygmy Rasbora. This fish not only needs clean pure water, but also a consistent water quality to thrive. Go through the account below to know more about this fish.

Geographical distribution

Spotted Rasbora is found along overgrown riverbanks of still to slow-moving flood plain rivers and swamps. It is also found in Southeast Asia, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Singapore and Sumatra.

Diet

Spotted Rasbora is an omnivore. It needs to be fed on a varied diet. It feeds on live food and small insects. It eats drosophila, daphnia, baby brine shrimp, Artemia, insect larvae and fine grade flakes.

Breeding

Regarding breeding of Spotted Rasbora, it is necessary to carefully design its tank so that the few eggs laid by this fish can be saved. Use soft water. Densely plant the tank with fine leaved plants. Any eggs falling from the plants will be saved by a substrate of marble. Before anything happens, parents have to adjust to the tank for a week or two. When eggs are laid, parents deposit them among plants. Parents should be removed from the tank or well fed. In a day or two, fry emerge. Feed the fry with liquid fry food until they are mature enough to eat crushed flake food or just hatched brine shrimp

Physical description

Spotted Rasbora is an elongated fish. Back of this fish is brownish red. Its body is bright brick red in color. Its body is spotted with many black spots. Generally, these spots are not more than five in number. Belly of this fish is yellowish-silver. Its dorsal and anal fins are black and the other fins are red at their bases.

Tank Set Up

Tank of Spotted Rasbora should measure 16 inches or 41 cms. It should hold 19 liters or 5 gallons of water. Keep the tank heavily planted and a cover of floating plants that can diffuse the lightning. Use dark gravel for the substrate. Temperature should be 24 degree C to 27 degree C or 75 degree F to 81 degree F, pH should be 5 to 6.8 and hardness of water should be 0-8 dH. If it is necessary to add medications to the water, carefully introduce them a little at a time by diluting the medicine with tank water before adding it. It is good to have Peat filtration in tank of Spotted Rasbora.

Social Behavior

Spotted Rasbora is a peaceful fish that likes to live in schools. It is necessary to keep this fish in a school of six or more individuals. Do not keep it with few companions or with significantly larger fish or else it tends to be high strung and constantly remains hiding. Its companions should be similar in size, peaceful, and not too active. Any of the other rasboras are acceptable companions, but watch them closely and remove any misbehavers. Avoid the Danio group on the whole as they are usually too active

Spotted Rasbora is quite sensitive to its environment. Any sudden changes in the water quality will weaken it significantly. Since it is so small, a school can be housed in a small aquarium of about five gallons, however, that little water is difficult to be maintained. This fish does not like harsh lighting. Keep in mind, how to take good care of this fish and enjoy keeping it on your aquarium.