Slender Rasbora (Rasbora daniconius)

Slender Rasbora (Rasbora daniconius)

Slender Rasbora (Rasbora daniconius)

The Slender Rasbora (Rasbora daniconius) is also called the Black Line Rasbora, Striped Rasbora, Gold Line Rasbora, Common Rasbora, Golden Striped Rasbora, Slender Barb, and Striped Barb by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts and is found in the river systems of South and Southeast Asia from Sri Lanka, the Indus basin, the Mekong River and the northern Malay Peninsula. It has also been collected in Borneo and Sumatra.

As the name implies, the Slender Rasbora is a slim fish with a compressed, oblong body that in the wild reaches a length of over 6 inches. In an aquarium environment it will reach a length of about 3 1/2 inches.

The Slender Rasbora is silver in color with olive colored undertones. The belly of the males is predominately white whereas females are more yellow to reddish colored. A striking blue black colored line outlined with gold runs the length of the body right through the tail of the fish. Their rather large scales are highly reflective and their yellow fins are small.

Slender Rasboras are primarily found in slow moving, muddy, sandy streams and rivers but they frequent all sorts of waterways from medium to large rivers, ponds, ditches, canals, brooks, streams, flooded fields to even brackish waters. They will occasionally form large schools to feed on small aquatic insects and detritus.

Slender Rasboras are active, schooling fish that spend their time in the mid water column. In an aquarium they should be kept in schools of at least 8 to 10 fish in a long densely planted aquarium of at least 20 gallons capacity, with a sandy or fine gravel substrate, some “river rocks” and plenty of room for them to swim.

To replicate their natural environment, they should be provided with strong direct lighting and slightly acidic, medium hard water conditions. Because Slender Rasboras are jumpers and easily excitable, their aquarium should be planted with a variety of aquatic plants and have some bogwood or driftwood roots placed in it to make them feel safe and bring out their color. A tightly fitting cover is needed for these fish.

Slender Rasboras are peaceful and can be mixed with other active fish of similar temperament. Some good tankmate selections include Good tankmates include other Cyprinids, larger characins,live bearers, peaceful bottom dwelling catfish and loaches and some of the dwarf cichlds.

In the wild Slender Rasboras feed on small aquatic insects and detritus. In the aquarium, they can be fed a quality flake food or pellets augmented with some lettuce or other vegetable matter and live, frozen or freeze dried daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworms or tubifex. These fish do best when fed two or three times a day. Offer them only what they can consume in three to four minutes.

Slender Rasboras lay their eggs among the leaves of plants and are relatively easy to breed. They do not care for their eggs or fry

First, condition a pair or a school by feeding them live foods several times a day for a month. Well fed females will begin filling out with eggs and an intense chasing courtship will begin. Increase the water temperature in the spawning tank slightly and drop the pH to about 7.0. When ready, a spawning pair will begin depositing their eggs on fine leaved plants like Hornwort, Cabomba, Milfoil, Java Moss, Crystalwort or a spawning mop. A pair will assume a side by side position and the male will try to wrap himself around the female until eggs are laid. The ritual continues until the female finds another hiding place and the spawning process repeats itself.

Remove the parents as soon as the spawning is completed or they will devour the eggs. Fry will hatch in 3 to 4 days and be free swimming in about 3 more days. Feed the fry infusoria for the first few days until they are large enough to eat baby brine shrimp.

Slender Rasboras are not common but specialized fish stores occasionally carry them. When they are available for purchase, they are relatively expensive and 1″ to 1 1/2″ in size.

Slender Rasbora (Rasbora daniconius)

Slender Rasbora (Rasbora daniconius)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum Tank Size: 20 gal
Carel Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
Water Conditions: 71.0 to 80.0° F, 8 – 17 dGH, pH 6.0-7.5
Max Size: 6″
Color Form: Silver
Diet: Omnivore
Compatability: Good community tank fish
Origin: South, Southeast Asia
Family: Cyprinidae
Lifespan: 5 – 8 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner
(native species include Lagenandra ovata and Blyxa auberti) for cover.

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