Chili Rasbora
About the Chili Rasbora (Mosquito Rasbora)
Species Type: Freshwater Fish
Category: Cyprinids
Care Level: Moderate. May tolerate only a narrow range of water parameters, have specific dietary requirements including frozen or even live foods, may have behaviors that severely limit potential tankmates or may require a specialized aquarium setup.
Origin: Endemic to southwestern Borneo, Indonesia. Occurs in dimly-lit and slow-moving quiet blackwater streams and ponds in forest peat swamps.
Compatibility/Temperament: Very peaceful, must be kept in a group of at least six but preferably nine or more. Given its small size it is best in smaller tanks as a group or with similar quiet fish such as the Trigonstigma rasbora species, dwarf cory species, dwarf loach species, Dario dario, etc. Best not kept with other species in the genus as they will likely cross-breed. Tends to be "lost" in larger aquaria.
Description
This is the most commonly seen of the present six species in this genus of miniature rasbora fishes, all of which are very similar not only in colouration and patterning but also in their requirements and behaviours. It is recommended that the species not be mixed in the same aquarium as they may cross-breed.
This beautiful little fish will be at its most colourful in a group in a dimly lit and well planted aquarium containing some driftwood. As little water current as possible will suit it admirably; floating plants are mandatory. This fish tends to remain in a group as they explore the plants and every area of the aquarium in search of microscopic food.
Females are rounder than males, and males are more colourful especially when displaying. This fish is an egg-scatter and a continuous spawner, meaning that with a group of males and females in the right environment [an established and mature well-planted tank with soft, acidic water] a few eggs will be laid daily, and some of the fry will likely survive with no intervention from the aquarist.
The common name "Mosquito Rasbora" is a translation of the German common name given to this fish by its discovers; the collection site was heavily infested with mosquito, hindering collection.
The species was originally described by D. Vogt (1978) as Rasbora urophthalma brigittae, thus a subspecies of B. urophthalma. The epithet derives from the ancient Greek oura [=tail] and ophthalmos [=eye], referring to the tail spot, and "brigittae" honours Vogt's wife, Brigitte. In 1993, Kottelat & Vidthayanon erected the new genus Boraras for the (new) type species B. micros on the basis of morphology and reproduction methods, and also moved the four small-bodied Rasbora species into this genus, raising the subject fish to distinct species status. A sixth species has now been described (Conway & Kottelat, 2011). The name Boraras is an anagram of "Rasbora" referring to the reverse ratio of abdominal and caudal vertebrae in Boraras compared to Rasbora.
All six species in this genus have a distinctive colouration and patterning. On a reddish background, in B. maculatus, B. micros and B. naevus there are three roundish black/dark brown blotches, one being a shoulder patch that is larger than the eye, a second at the origin of the anal fin, and the third on the caudal peduncle (at the base of the caudal fin). On B. brigittae and B. urophthalmoides there is a black/dark brown midlateral stripe and the caudal fin base blotch, and on B. merah there is an elongated blotch of the same colour on the anterior third of the body and then a much narrower midlateral line leading to the caudal fin base (Conway & Kottelat, 2011).
In the first phylogenetic analysis of the species in Boraras, Conway (2005) established the monophyletic lineage of this genus. Dr. Conway noted that the interrelationships of the five Boraras species remains unresolved, and no evidence was found to suggest that Boraras and Trigonostigma are closely related.
Species Type: Freshwater Fish
Category: Cyprinids
Care Level: Moderate. May tolerate only a narrow range of water parameters, have specific dietary requirements including frozen or even live foods, may have behaviors that severely limit potential tankmates or may require a specialized aquarium setup.
Origin: Endemic to southwestern Borneo, Indonesia. Occurs in dimly-lit and slow-moving quiet blackwater streams and ponds in forest peat swamps.
Compatibility/Temperament: Very peaceful, must be kept in a group of at least six but preferably nine or more. Given its small size it is best in smaller tanks as a group or with similar quiet fish such as the Trigonstigma rasbora species, dwarf cory species, dwarf loach species, Dario dario, etc. Best not kept with other species in the genus as they will likely cross-breed. Tends to be "lost" in larger aquaria.
Description
This is the most commonly seen of the present six species in this genus of miniature rasbora fishes, all of which are very similar not only in colouration and patterning but also in their requirements and behaviours. It is recommended that the species not be mixed in the same aquarium as they may cross-breed.
This beautiful little fish will be at its most colourful in a group in a dimly lit and well planted aquarium containing some driftwood. As little water current as possible will suit it admirably; floating plants are mandatory. This fish tends to remain in a group as they explore the plants and every area of the aquarium in search of microscopic food.
Females are rounder than males, and males are more colourful especially when displaying. This fish is an egg-scatter and a continuous spawner, meaning that with a group of males and females in the right environment [an established and mature well-planted tank with soft, acidic water] a few eggs will be laid daily, and some of the fry will likely survive with no intervention from the aquarist.
The common name "Mosquito Rasbora" is a translation of the German common name given to this fish by its discovers; the collection site was heavily infested with mosquito, hindering collection.
The species was originally described by D. Vogt (1978) as Rasbora urophthalma brigittae, thus a subspecies of B. urophthalma. The epithet derives from the ancient Greek oura [=tail] and ophthalmos [=eye], referring to the tail spot, and "brigittae" honours Vogt's wife, Brigitte. In 1993, Kottelat & Vidthayanon erected the new genus Boraras for the (new) type species B. micros on the basis of morphology and reproduction methods, and also moved the four small-bodied Rasbora species into this genus, raising the subject fish to distinct species status. A sixth species has now been described (Conway & Kottelat, 2011). The name Boraras is an anagram of "Rasbora" referring to the reverse ratio of abdominal and caudal vertebrae in Boraras compared to Rasbora.
All six species in this genus have a distinctive colouration and patterning. On a reddish background, in B. maculatus, B. micros and B. naevus there are three roundish black/dark brown blotches, one being a shoulder patch that is larger than the eye, a second at the origin of the anal fin, and the third on the caudal peduncle (at the base of the caudal fin). On B. brigittae and B. urophthalmoides there is a black/dark brown midlateral stripe and the caudal fin base blotch, and on B. merah there is an elongated blotch of the same colour on the anterior third of the body and then a much narrower midlateral line leading to the caudal fin base (Conway & Kottelat, 2011).
In the first phylogenetic analysis of the species in Boraras, Conway (2005) established the monophyletic lineage of this genus. Dr. Conway noted that the interrelationships of the five Boraras species remains unresolved, and no evidence was found to suggest that Boraras and Trigonostigma are closely related.
Temperament: Community
Family: Cyprinidae
Native To: Indonesia
Diet: Omnivore
Adult Size: Up to 1.25"
Temperature: 78-82°F
Water Parameters: pH 5.0-7.0; KH 5-10
Care Level: Moderate
Tank Size: 10+ gallons
Scientific Name: Boraras brigittae
Environment: Freshwater
Not recommended for new tanks
Does best in schools of five or more
Needs plenty of hiding places
Family: Cyprinidae
Native To: Indonesia
Diet: Omnivore
Adult Size: Up to 1.25"
Temperature: 78-82°F
Water Parameters: pH 5.0-7.0; KH 5-10
Care Level: Moderate
Tank Size: 10+ gallons
Scientific Name: Boraras brigittae
Environment: Freshwater
Not recommended for new tanks
Does best in schools of five or more
Needs plenty of hiding places