All fish / Cyprinidae

Dwarf Rasbora

Boraras maculatus

Also known as spotted rasbora, dwarf spotted rasbora, pygmy rasbora, rasbora maculata, spotted dwarf rasbora, ラスボラ・マキュラータ, seluang, 斑点小丑灯, 小斑点鲃

One of the smallest fish in the hobby, it has a salmon red to orange body with a large dark spot on the side and smaller spots near the anal fin and tail base. Keepers like it for nano planted tanks and blackwater set ups, where a shoal shows strong colour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

2 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

4 to 6.5

Smallest tank

30 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 10 or more

Diet

Omnivore: tiny live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, microworms and crushed flake

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra (Indonesia)

Breeding

It scatters eggs among fine plants or moss and gives no parental care. Spawning is fairly easy in a soft, acidic, well planted tank, but the tiny fry need infusoria and the adults will eat eggs.

Good to know

Its very small size means it should only be kept with other tiny, peaceful fish and given soft, acidic water. It is often confused with Boraras urophthalmoides and B. brigittae, so check the spot pattern.