All fish / Cyprinidae

Red-striped rasbora

Trigonopoma pauciperforatum

Also known as redstripe rasbora, red line rasbora, glowlight rasbora, rasbora pauciperforata, red striped rasbora, glowstripe rasbora, ラスボラ・パウシペルフォラータ, seluang, 红线波鱼, 红线三角波鱼

A slim, torpedo-like rasbora with a glowing coppery red line running above a dark lateral stripe along the whole body. It comes from soft, acidic blackwater swamps and streams, and a shoal looks striking in a dimly lit, planted tank with leaf litter.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworm and brine shrimp, plus quality flakes and micro pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia)

Breeding

An egg-scattering fish that gives no parental care and will eat its own eggs. Spawning in captivity is rarely reported and needs very soft, acidic water, fine-leaved plants or mesh, and removal of adults after spawning.

Good to know

Sensitive to poor water quality and hard, alkaline water, so it is best added to a mature tank. Sometimes confused with the similar Trigonopoma gracile, which has a less intense red stripe.