Greater scissortail
Rasbora caudimaculata
Also known as Greater scissortail rasbora, Spot-tailed rasbora, Red Scissortail Rasbora
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F
- 20–26°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Top
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Origin
- Native to forest streams and rivers of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo.
Overview
The greater scissortail is a big, fast schooling rasbora with a deeply forked tail. It is an easy fish for a large tank.
Did you know
The greater scissortail's black and yellow tail tips flash like scissor blades as the shoal changes direction. Both the common name and the species name caudimaculata, meaning spotted tail, come from them.
Caring for the greater scissortail
Give greater scissortails a long tank of at least 53 gal (200 L), since they are powerful swimmers that need real swimming room. They jump well, so fit a tight lid.
Keep the water at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C), with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5 and soft to medium hardness. They show their best condition in clean, oxygen-rich water with a gentle flow. They take flakes, pellets and frozen or live foods eagerly.
Keep a group of at least six to spread out chasing and to see natural schooling. Greater scissortails are peaceful with fish too large to eat. Breeding them is hard.
Good to know
Rasbora caudimaculata is the largest of the scissortail rasboras, growing well above the size of the more common Rasbora trilineata. It belongs to the family Cyprinidae.
In the wild
The greater scissortail comes from clear to tannin-stained streams and larger rivers of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. It is closely tied to flowing forest streams. There it patrols the upper half of open water in fast shoals.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The greater scissortail is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the top. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Bolivian ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Yoyo loach
Botia almorhae
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Burmese border loach
Botia histrionica
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Congo tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Forest halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 34 gal (130 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a greater scissortail need?
A greater scissortail needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the top.
What temperature and pH does a greater scissortail need?
A greater scissortail is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
What does a greater scissortail eat?
A greater scissortail eats flakes, pellets and frozen or live foods, and it takes them eagerly.
How big does a greater scissortail get?
An adult greater scissortail reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
Does a greater scissortail need a group?
Yes. A greater scissortail is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
5.5 in (14 cm)45 gal (170 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)Scissortail rasbora
Rasbora trilineata
5.5 in (14 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)32 gal (120 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Slender rasbora
Rasbora daniconius
3.9 in (10 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Brilliant rasbora
Rasbora einthovenii
3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)32 gal (120 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Sidestripe rasbora
Rasbora paviana
3.1 in (8 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)18 gal (70 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Red-tailed rasbora
Rasbora borapetensis
2.4 in (6 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)34 gal (130 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Clown rasbora
Rasbora kalochroma
3.9 in (10 cm) · 34 gal (130 L)