Brilliant Rasbora Care Guide
Rasbora einthovenii is a slim Sundaland rasbora with a dark lateral line on a coppery body, a peaceful schooler from blackwater peat-swamp streams.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Rasbora einthovenii, the brilliant rasbora, is a slim cyprinid with a thin dark lateral line running along a coppery body. It is a very peaceful, gregarious schooling fish from the blackwater streams of Sundaland.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinidae
- Genus: Rasbora
- Scientific name: Rasbora einthovenii
- Order: Cypriniformes
Habitat
The species is native to southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo and Sumatra. It mostly inhabits blackwater streams and rivers associated with ancient forest peat swamps, where the water is stained brown by tannins, acidic and very soft.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.0
- GH: 2-8 °dGH
- School size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
It is an omnivorous micropredator feeding in the wild on small insects, worms, crustaceans and zooplankton. In captivity it accepts dried foods but performs best on small live and frozen foods such as Daphnia and Artemia.
Compatibility
A very peaceful, middle-water schooling fish best kept in groups of six or more, which improves colour and reduces nervousness. Suitable companions include other Asian tetras and corydoras; aggressive species should be avoided.
Brilliant Rasbora (Rasbora einthovenii) Breeding Guide
Overview
Rasbora einthovenii, the brilliant rasbora, is a slim cyprinid from Southeast Asian blackwater swamps across Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra, reaching about 9 cm. According to Seriously Fish it is an egg-scattering, continuous spawner that exhibits no parental care.
Sexing
Seriously Fish reports that mature females are noticeably rounder-bellied and often slightly larger than males. No other reliable external difference is documented.
Conditioning
The species is a micropredator preferring small live and frozen foods such as Daphnia and Artemia over an exclusively dried diet. Conditioning females until they appear full of eggs precedes a spawning attempt.
Breeding Setup
Seriously Fish recommends one or more shallow containers (about 75 x 30 x 30 cm) half-filled, very dimly lit, with mesh at the base that allows eggs to fall through but prevents adult access. An internal power filter can be added initially, positioned to direct flow lengthwise.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Water should be slightly acidic to neutral with temperature towards the upper end of the range (around 26 C). One or two pairs are introduced when females appear full of eggs, and spawning is initiated by adding cool water gradually and feeding live and frozen foods.
Egg & Fry Care
Incubation takes between 18 and 48 hours, with fry free-swimming 24-48 hours later. Initial food is Paramecium, progressing to Artemia nauplii and microworm as the fry grow.
Common Challenges
As with other scatterers, a mesh base or dense cover protects eggs from being eaten, and the small free-swimming fry need correctly sized first foods. Soft, acidic blackwater conditions best replicate the natural habitat.