Gangetic scissortail rasbora

Rasbora rasbora

Also known as Scissortail of the Ganges

FreshwaterFish

Gangetic scissortail rasbora (Rasbora rasbora) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F (22–27°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 5.1 in (13 cm)
Minimum tank: 42 gal (160 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Common
Origin: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar
Family: Danionidae

Overview

The rasbora that gave the genus its name, and a fish most keepers have never actually seen because the smaller ornamental species took over the trade. It reaches 13 centimeters, so it needs a 160 liter tank and a school of eight or more with open swimming length. It is peaceful, hardy and completely undemanding, and it suits larger community fish. Feed flake, granules and frozen foods.

In the wild

Rasbora rasbora is widespread across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, in rivers, streams and floodplain waters. Keep it at 22 to 27 degrees Celsius and pH 6.0 to 7.5. Its broad natural range is part of why it tolerates such a wide spread of conditions in a tank.

Good to know

Rasbora rasbora reaches about 13 centimeters and is the type species of the genus, the fish every other Rasbora is formally compared against. It is an egg scatterer that does not guard. Its plain silver coloring and large adult size are why the ornamental trade largely passed it over.

Did you know

Its name is just rasbora twice; when a species' name repeats, it means this is the original, the fish the whole genus was built around.

Tank mates

Gangetic scissortail rasbora is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.