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Red-striped rasbora

Trigonopoma pauciperforatum

Also known as Redstripe rasbora, Glowlight rasbora, Rasbora pauciperforata, Rasbora agilis, Trigonopoma pauciperforata, Red line rasbora

FreshwaterFish

Red-striped rasbora (Trigonopoma pauciperforatum)
R.workoran · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
5.0–6.8
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
22 gal
85 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Danionidae
Origin
Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo

Overview

The red-striped rasbora is a peaceful schooling fish for the middle of a quiet community or a planted blackwater tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The red-striped rasbora's stripe is at its most vivid in soft, tannin-stained blackwater, where it can look almost like a glowing neon line. In brighter, harder water the color fades. That is why keepers who want the full effect go to the trouble of recreating a dark, acidic tank.

Caring for the red-striped rasbora

Keep red-striped rasboras in a group of at least eight, since a good shoal keeps them confident. A tank of 22 gal (85 L) or larger will hold a lively shoal. Give them a dark substrate, driftwood and leaf litter, and let botanicals stain the water a soft tea color. Subdued lighting and generous planting make the red stripe stand out.

Keep the filtration gentle. The water should be soft and acidic, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 6.8. Feed small foods they can take in midwater, such as fine flake, micro pellets, and frozen or live daphnia and cyclops.

Red-striped rasboras are peaceful and suit other small, gentle species. Avoid boisterous or nippy tank mates that would keep them hiding. They scatter their eggs and do not guard them, and they can be bred in soft, acidic water with moderate effort.

Good to know

The red-striped rasbora is a slender member of the family Danionidae. Its signature is a brilliant red to orange line that runs the length of the body above a darker band. It was once placed in the genus Rasbora, as Rasbora pauciperforata. When it moved to Trigonopoma, the species name took its neuter ending.

In the wild

The red-striped rasbora comes from soft, acidic blackwater streams and peat swamps of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. The water there is dark with tannins and dimly lit beneath the forest cover.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The red-striped 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 red-striped rasbora need?

A red-striped rasbora needs at least 22 gal (85 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a red-striped rasbora need?

A red-striped rasbora is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 5.0–6.8.

What does a red-striped rasbora eat?

A red-striped rasbora eats small foods it can take in midwater, such as fine flake and micro pellets. It also eats frozen or live daphnia and cyclops.

How big does a red-striped rasbora get?

An adult red-striped rasbora reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

Does a red-striped rasbora need a group?

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

How does a red-striped rasbora breed?

A red-striped rasbora is an egg scatterer that does not guard its eggs. Breeding takes moderate effort in soft, acidic water.

Related species