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Clown rasbora

Rasbora kalochroma

FreshwaterFish

Clown rasbora (Rasbora kalochroma)
Factumquintus at German Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
3.9 in
10 cm
Minimum tank
34 gal
130 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra

Overview

The clown rasbora is a deep red, loosely shoaling rasbora for a dim blackwater tank. It is a fish for keepers with a little experience.

Did you know

The clown rasbora's species name, kalochroma, translates from the Greek as beautiful color. It is a nod to the rich red the fish shows in soft, dark water.

Caring for the clown rasbora

Keep clown rasboras in a group of eight or more, in a tank of 34 gal (130 L) or larger. Give them a dark base, generous driftwood and leaf litter, and dim lighting broken by floating plants.

They want warm water, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C). Keep the pH at 6.0 to 7.5, toward the lower, more acidic end. Botanicals that release tannins help lower the pH gently and mimic the tea-colored water of their home. They appreciate meaty foods, so offer frozen and live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp alongside a good flake or micro pellet.

Clown rasboras shoal more loosely than most rasboras, and adults often spread out and behave semi-independently rather than moving as a tight ball. They can act territorial toward their own kind as they mature. They swim in the middle water and are mostly peaceful, and a larger group settles them and spreads out any minor squabbling. House them with other calm species that enjoy soft, warm water, and avoid pushy or nippy tank mates.

They are egg-scattering spawners and do not guard their eggs. Breeding them in aquariums is difficult and rarely achieved.

Good to know

Rasbora kalochroma is a comparatively large, deep-bodied rasbora in the family Cyprinidae, related to the tightly schooling harlequin rasbora. It is a solid cherry to brick red fish with two dark blotches on the flank. One sits behind the gill cover and one near the middle of the body. Nearly all stock is wild caught.

In the wild

The clown rasbora is a blackwater specialist from Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. It lives in shady, soft, acidic forest streams and peat swamps stained brown with tannins.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The clown rasbora is a mostly peaceful, schooling 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 clown rasbora need?

A clown rasbora needs at least 34 gal (130 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a clown rasbora need?

A clown rasbora is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a clown rasbora eat?

A clown rasbora appreciates meaty foods such as frozen and live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. Offer them alongside a good flake or micro pellet.

How big does a clown rasbora get?

An adult clown rasbora reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

Does a clown rasbora need a group?

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

How does a clown rasbora breed?

The clown rasbora is an egg-scattering spawner that does not guard its eggs. Breeding it in aquariums is difficult and rarely achieved.

Related species