All fish / Cyprinidae

Strawberry Rasbora

Boraras naevus

Also known as strawberry rasbora, spotted rasbora, naevus rasbora, strawberry boraras, red spotted rasbora, ปลาซิวสตรอว์เบอร์รี่, ボララス・ナエヴス, rasbora strawberry, 草莓灯, 草莓斑马

This is a tiny cyprinid whose males turn a rich red-orange with a large dark blotch on the flank and dark marks on the fins. It is kept for its colour and calm shoaling behaviour in small, well-planted nano tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

1.8 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

30 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 10 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern Thailand (Malay Peninsula, Gulf of Thailand drainages)

Breeding

It scatters eggs among fine plants or moss and gives no parental care. Small numbers of fry often appear in mature, densely planted tanks, but raising many needs a separate set-up and very fine first foods.

Good to know

Its small size makes it easy prey for larger fish, so keep it only with similarly tiny, peaceful tankmates. It is often confused with Boraras maculatus, which has more spots and a smaller blotch.