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Chili rasbora

Boraras brigittae

Also known as Mosquito rasbora, Chilli rasbora

FreshwaterFish

Chili rasbora (Boraras brigittae)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
5.0–7.0
Adult size
0.8 in
2 cm
Minimum tank
10 gal
38 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Borneo

Overview

The chili rasbora is a peaceful, red shoaling fish for a planted nano tank. It takes a little experience to keep well.

Did you know

The chili rasbora's other name, mosquito rasbora, is misleading. It is far too small to make a dent in mosquito populations. The name points to its size and swamp habitat rather than any pest-control job.

Caring for the chili rasbora

Keep chili rasboras in a group of ten or more, since a bigger school brings out their color and confidence. Six is the bare minimum. A dim, heavily planted nano tank of 10 gal (38 L) or more works well. Their strong red color is the main reason keepers want them in a dark, planted tank.

Give them soft, acidic water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. Leaf litter or wood colors the water and provides cover. Their mouths are tiny, so feed crushed flake and micro pellets, plus small live or frozen foods like baby brine shrimp and daphnia.

Chili rasboras are peaceful and stay in the middle of the tank. They are too small to mix with anything that could eat them. Males show a stronger red than the plainer females, and the color is deepest in displaying males. They scatter small numbers of eggs among plants and give no parental care, and breeding them is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

Boraras brigittae is a tiny cyprinid and one of the smallest fish in the hobby. Wild populations are pressured by deforestation and the draining of peat swamps in Borneo.

In the wild

The chili rasbora comes from blackwater peat swamps and slow streams in Borneo. The water there is soft, acidic and stained dark brown by tannins.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The chili rasbora is a peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a chili rasbora need?

A chili rasbora needs at least 10 gal (38 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a chili rasbora need?

A chili rasbora is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.

What does a chili rasbora eat?

A chili rasbora has a tiny mouth, so it eats crushed flake and micro pellets. It also takes small live or frozen foods like baby brine shrimp and daphnia.

How big does a chili rasbora get?

An adult chili rasbora reaches about 0.8 in (2 cm).

Does a chili rasbora need a group?

Yes. A chili rasbora is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How can you tell a male chili rasbora from a female?

Males show a stronger red than the plainer females. Their color is deepest when they display.

How does a chili rasbora breed?

Chili rasboras scatter small numbers of eggs among plants and give no parental care. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.

Related species