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Pearly rasbora

Rasboroides vaterifloris

Also known as Fire rasbora, Vateria flower rasbora

FreshwaterFish

Pearly rasbora (Rasboroides vaterifloris)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Danionidae
Origin
Kalu River basin, southwestern Sri Lanka

Overview

The pearly rasbora is a shy, softly colored schooling fish for a quiet, planted tank. It holds to the middle of the tank and is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The pearly rasbora lives in the same shrinking wet-zone forest as the tree it is named after.

Caring for the pearly rasbora

Give a group of pearly rasboras a planted, shaded tank of 14 gal (54 L) or larger, with quiet water. Dim light, plenty of plants and some botanicals for cover suit them. Avoid strong current.

Keep the water soft and gently filtered, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Hold conditions stable, since this species reacts badly to sudden change. Feed small foods they can manage, such as fine flake and small frozen daphnia and bloodworm. Occasional live foods bring on color.

Keep at least eight, and preferably ten or more, since they settle only in a proper group. Pearly rasboras are shy and gentle to a fault, and pushier fish easily out-compete them at feeding time. Give them calm, similarly small companions rather than pushy tank mates.

Females are noticeably larger and deeper-bodied than the slimmer, brighter males. Pearly rasboras are egg scatterers, and breeding them is of moderate difficulty.

Good to know

Rasboroides vaterifloris is a member of the family Danionidae. The species name means Vateria-flowered, comparing its warm orange-pink glow to the blossom of a Sri Lankan rainforest tree. The IUCN lists it as endangered, and forest clearance threatens its wild populations.

In the wild

The pearly rasbora is endemic to shaded, slow-flowing clear streams in the wet-zone forests of the Kalu basin in southwestern Sri Lanka. These streams run over silt and thick leaf litter.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The pearly 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a pearly rasbora need?

A pearly rasbora needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a pearly rasbora need?

A pearly rasbora is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a pearly rasbora eat?

A pearly rasbora eats small foods it can manage, such as fine flake and small frozen daphnia and bloodworm. Occasional live foods help bring on its color.

How big does a pearly rasbora get?

An adult pearly rasbora reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

Does a pearly rasbora need a group?

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

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

Males are slimmer and brighter than females, which are noticeably larger and deeper-bodied.

How does a pearly rasbora breed?

Pearly rasboras are egg scatterers. Breeding them is of moderate difficulty.

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