Size
1.6 inches
Physical Characteristics and Behavior
The dominant individuals have a darker color, and the male is a vivid orange/red all over. The unmated fins of the female are a subdued golden color with a tinge of crimson. Women are slightly taller and stockier than men when they are fully grown. It can be difficult to find females for sale because, sometimes, only the more bright and marketable males are transported.
Keeping as Pet
- The Aquarium Size
A group can fit in a tank that is 24″ x 15″ x 12″/60cm x 37.5″ x 30cm/70.8 litres in size.
- Maintenance
Although the fish tend to display greater coloration when kept in a well-planted setup with a dark substrate, the choice of decor is not particularly important. It also seems to be valued and gives the tank a more natural feel to add some floating plants and driftwood roots or branches to soften the light entering it. This fish shouldn’t be put in a biologically young tank since it can be sensitive to changes in the water’s chemistry. It should also have a tight-fitting cover because, like most rasboras, it is a skilled jumper.
- Water Conditions
For it to survive, the aquatic environment must meet the following requirements: Temperature: 73-79°F/23-26°C; Hardness: 2- 15°H; pH: Seems to perform best in mildly acidic to neutral settings between 6.5 and 7.5.
- Diet
It is most likely a micropredator that feeds on tiny insects, worms, crustaceans, and other zooplankton in the wild, similar to other small Rasbora species. It will consume dry foods of an appropriate size in the aquarium, but these shouldn’t be the only items you give it. The best coloration will result from daily feedings of tiny live and frozen foods like Daphnia and Artemia, combined with high-quality flakes and granules, which will also stimulate the fish to get into breeding condition.
- Behavior and Compatibility
The tranquil nature of this species makes it the perfect tenant of the nicely equipped community tank. It can be kept with many of the most well-known fish in the hobby, including other tiny cyprinids, tetras, livebearers, rainbowfish, anabantoids, catfish, and loaches, as it has no unique water chemistry requirements. As always, careful research is necessary when choosing a community of fish, and the fish’s modest adult size must be taken into account. It is more difficult to establish a population of fish native to western Sumatra because exports from the area are, at best, irregular.
Since it is a schooling species by nature, at least 8–10 specimens should be kept together. Maintaining it in sufficient quantities can not only calm the fish down, but also produce a more effective, realistic-looking display. As they vie with one another for a woman’s attention, males will also show off their best colors.
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