Glowlight Rasbora Care Guide
Trigonopoma pauciperforatum is a slim rasbora with a luminous red lateral stripe, a peaceful schooler from blackwater peat-swamp streams of Sundaland.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Trigonopoma pauciperforatum, the glowlight or redstripe rasbora, is a slim cyprinid with a luminous red horizontal stripe along the body. It is a peaceful, gregarious schooling fish from the blackwater streams of Sundaland.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinidae
- Genus: Trigonopoma
- Scientific name: Trigonopoma pauciperforatum
- Order: Cypriniformes
Habitat
The species is native to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo and Sumatra, with most collections from the Kapuas River basin in West Kalimantan. It inhabits blackwater peat-swamp streams stained dark brown by humic acids, with minimal dissolved minerals and dense forest canopy overhead.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.0
- GH: 2-8 °dGH
- School size: 8-10 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
It is an omnivorous micropredator feeding on small insects, crustaceans and zooplankton. In captivity it benefits from regular meals of small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and Artemia.
Compatibility
A peaceful, middle-water schooling fish best kept in groups of at least eight to ten for proper social behaviour and reduced nervousness. Compatible companions include small Boraras and corydoras; aggressive species should be avoided.
Breeding
It is an egg-scatterer with no parental care. Eggs hatch in roughly 18-48 hours, and fry become free-swimming after three to four days.
Glowlight Rasbora (Trigonopoma pauciperforatum) Breeding Guide
Overview
Trigonopoma pauciperforatum is a small cyprinid from Southeast Asia, recorded from Thailand, Cambodia and the Malay Peninsula to Indonesia, where it lives in soft, acidic, often tannin-stained peat and forest streams. According to Seriously Fish it is an egg-scattering free spawner that exhibits no parental care, and well-conditioned adults spawn frequently, so small numbers of juveniles can appear in mature aquaria without intervention.
Sexing
Mature females are noticeably rounder-bellied and often a little larger than the slimmer, more intensely patterned males, per Seriously Fish. The contrast is clearest when females are gravid with eggs.
Conditioning
Condition the adult group together on a varied diet before attempting controlled breeding. Bring females into spawning condition until they appear visibly gravid; this readiness signals the time to move breeders into the spawning tank.
Breeding Setup
- Separate, dimly lit breeding tank filled with mature water (Seriously Fish).
- Base protected with mesh, plastic spawning mats or glass marbles, or fine-leaved plants such as Taxiphyllum and spawning mops so eggs fall out of reach.
- Gentle oxygenation from an air-powered sponge filter or air stone.
- Water soft and slightly acidic; FishBase lists a natural range of pH 5.0-6.0, 5-12 dH and 23-25 C, with Seriously Fish recommending the upper part of a roughly 21-26 C range.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Introduce one or two pairs, or a group of around six of each sex, once females are gravid. Seriously Fish notes that spawning typically follows the next morning. As an egg-scattering free spawner, the fish release eggs over the substrate or plants with no nest-building or guarding.
Egg & Fry Care
Remove the adults immediately once eggs are seen, as they will consume them. Eggs hatch within 18-48 hours and the fry become free-swimming after 3-4 days. They first require infusoria-grade foods, progressing to microworm, Artemia nauplii and similar items as they grow (Seriously Fish).
Common Challenges
Egg predation by the adults is the main obstacle, so prompt removal and an egg trap are essential. The need for very small first foods and soft, mature, acidic water means this rasbora is rated an intermediate-level project.