Gangetic scissortail rasbora
Rasbora rasbora
Also known as Scissortail of the Ganges
FreshwaterFish
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
- Egg scatterer
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Danionidae
- Origin
- Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar
Overview
The Gangetic scissortail rasbora is a large, peaceful schooling fish for a big community tank. It is easy to keep and completely undemanding.
Caring for the Gangetic scissortail rasbora
Gangetic scissortail rasboras grow to about 5.1 in (13 cm), so a group needs a tank of 42 gal (160 L) or larger. Leave plenty of open swimming length.
Keep the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. They are hardy and tolerate a wide spread of conditions, partly thanks to their broad natural range. Feed flake, granules and frozen foods.
Keep a school of eight or more. They are peaceful and suit a community of larger fish. Gangetic scissortail rasboras are egg scatterers that do not guard their eggs.
Good to know
Rasbora rasbora belongs to the family Danionidae and is the type species of its genus. Every other Rasbora is formally compared against it. Its plain silver coloring and large adult size are why the ornamental trade largely passed it over. Smaller ornamental species took over the trade, and most keepers have never actually seen one.
In the wild
The Gangetic scissortail rasbora is widespread across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It lives in rivers, streams and floodplain waters.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Gangetic scissortail rasbora is a 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.
Yoyo loach
Botia almorhae
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Celebes halfbeak
Nomorhamphus liemi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Flameback cichlid
Pundamilia nyererei
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Arrow loach
Nemacheilus masyae
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Forest halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 34 gal (130 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Bernatzik's baril
Opsarius bernatziki
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Gangetic scissortail rasbora need?
A Gangetic scissortail rasbora needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Gangetic scissortail rasbora need?
A Gangetic scissortail rasbora is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a Gangetic scissortail rasbora eat?
A Gangetic scissortail rasbora eats flake, granules and frozen foods.
How big does a Gangetic scissortail rasbora get?
An adult Gangetic scissortail rasbora reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
Does a Gangetic scissortail rasbora need a group?
Yes. A Gangetic scissortail rasbora is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How does a Gangetic scissortail rasbora breed?
The Gangetic scissortail rasbora scatters its eggs and does not guard them.
Related species
5.1 in (13 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Porthole rasbora
Rasbora cephalotaenia
5.1 in (13 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Sumatran rasbora
Rasbora sumatrana
5.1 in (13 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.3 in (8.5 cm)29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Wilpita rasbora
Rasbora wilpita
3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)53 gal (200 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Twospot rasbora
Rasbora elegans
7.9 in (20 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Bangka rasbora
Rasbora bankanensis
2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)24 gal (90 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Yap's rasbora
Rasbora patrickyapi
2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)