Pearly Rasbora Care Guide
Rasboroides vaterifloris is an endangered rasbora endemic to southwestern Sri Lanka, a peaceful schooler for soft, slightly acidic aquariums.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Rasboroides vaterifloris, the pearly or fire rasbora, is a small cyprinid with a shimmering pearl-pink body. It is endemic to Sri Lanka and is a peaceful schooling fish that displays its best colour in heavily planted, soft-water tanks.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinidae
- Genus: Rasboroides
- Scientific name: Rasboroides vaterifloris
- Order: Cypriniformes
Habitat
The species is endemic to southwestern Sri Lanka, in the Kalu, Bentota, Gin and Nilwala river basins. It inhabits shaded lowland rainforest streams with slightly acidic, soft water in a region of high rainfall, over silty substrates with leaf debris.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.0
- GH: 2-8 °dGH
- School size: 6-10 individuals
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
It is an omnivorous micropredator that consumes small invertebrates. In the aquarium it thrives on small live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and Artemia, alongside quality flakes and granules.
Compatibility
A peaceful, middle-water schooling fish that is shy and easily intimidated by boisterous tankmates, best kept in groups of six to ten. It pairs well with small cyprinids and peaceful loaches; aggressive species should be avoided.
Breeding
It is an egg-scatterer with no parental care, spawning in groups of several pairs. Fry are slow-growing and take several months to reach maturity.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Endangered. The species has a restricted range and is dependent on specific habitat, making it vulnerable to habitat loss.
Pearly Rasbora (Rasboroides vaterifloris) Breeding Guide
Overview
Rasboroides vaterifloris is an endemic Sri Lankan cyprinid that, per Seriously Fish, is a typical egg-scattering free spawner exhibiting no parental care. Females release eggs in batches of roughly 20 over several spawning events before becoming exhausted, and the fry are reported to be slow-growing, taking several months to reach maturity.
Sexing
According to Seriously Fish, adult males are noticeably smaller, slimmer and more colourful than females, with the difference especially clear when males are in spawning condition.
Conditioning
Condition adults well before spawning. Seriously Fish describes introducing 5-6 well-conditioned adult pairs to the breeding tank rather than relying on a single pair, improving the chance of productive spawns.
Breeding Setup
- Dedicated breeding tank with fine-leaved plants such as Taxiphyllum species for egg deposition and fish security.
- Very gentle filtration; an air-powered sponge unit is best so it does not draw in eggs or fry.
- Soft, slightly acidic water; the species' recorded natural range is 23-27 C, pH 5.5-7.0 and 18-143 ppm hardness.
- Some breeders reduce water depth to about 10 cm (4 inches) for fry rearing (Seriously Fish).
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Allow the conditioned pairs to spawn naturally for 4-5 days before removing them. The fish scatter eggs among the plants in successive small batches of about 20 with no nest or guarding behavior (Seriously Fish).
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch within 24-48 hours and the fry become free-swimming after 3-5 days. Offer Paramecium as a first food, then progress to Artemia nauplii and microworms as the fry grow (Seriously Fish).
Common Challenges
The fry are said to be slow-growing and take several months to reach maturity, so stable soft water and a sustained supply of tiny foods are needed throughout rearing. Gentle, egg-safe filtration is essential to avoid losses.