All fish / Cyprinidae

Exclamation Point Rasbora

Boraras urophthalmoides

Also known as exclamation point rasbora, least rasbora, dwarf rasbora, tiny rasbora, rasbora urophthalmoides, exclamation rasbora, least rasbora boraras, ปลาซิวแคระ, ラスボラ・ウロフタルモイデス, 小三角灯, 惊叹号灯

One of the smallest fish in the hobby, this rasbora is amber to orange with a dark lengthwise stripe ending in a spot near the tail, giving the exclamation mark look its name. Males show reddish fins. It is kept in heavily planted nano tanks where a group makes a lively, colourful display.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

1.6 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

20 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 10 or more

Diet

Omnivore: 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

Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and southern Vietnam (Mekong and Chao Phraya basins)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that spawns among fine-leaved plants or moss, with no parental care and adults eating eggs. Spawning happens readily in mature planted tanks, but the minute fry need infusoria and are tricky to raise in numbers.

Good to know

Its tiny size makes it vulnerable to almost any larger tankmate, so keep it with other very small, gentle species or shrimp. Often confused with Boraras micros and other Boraras species in shops.