All fish / Cyprinidae

Phoenix Rasbora

Boraras merah

Also known as phoenix rasbora, merah rasbora, red boraras, dwarf rasbora, phoenix micro rasbora, rasbora merah, ボララス・メラー, ikan merah boraras, 火焰小丑灯, 凤凰灯

One of the smallest cyprinids in the hobby, this rasbora is orange to deep red with a dark blotch behind the gill cover and another at the base of the tail. It comes from soft, tea-stained peat swamp waters and is kept in groups in planted nano tanks, where its colour becomes much brighter.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

1.8 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

4 to 6.5

Smallest tank

30 litres

Keep as

Group of 10 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern Borneo (Kalimantan Tengah and Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia)

Breeding

It scatters a few eggs among fine-leaved plants or moss and gives no parental care. Breeding is quite easy in a mature, densely planted tank with soft acidic water, but the tiny fry need infusoria and other very fine foods.

Good to know

Its tiny size means it should only be kept with other very small, peaceful fish and shrimps. It is easily confused with Boraras brigittae, which is similar but has a horizontal stripe rather than spots.