TankBud

Red-tailed rasbora

Rasbora borapetensis

Also known as Red Tail Rasbora

FreshwaterFish

Red-tailed rasbora (Rasbora borapetensis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
18 gal
70 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam

Overview

These are peaceful, beginner-friendly schooling fish that need a group of at least six to feel secure and stay active. They swim in the middle and upper water and pair well with other small calm community fish in a planted tank. A 70 liter tank suits a school comfortably. Feed quality flake, micro pellets, and the occasional frozen or live food like daphnia to keep their color up.

In the wild

Red-tailed rasboras come from Southeast Asia across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, living in clear, slow streams, ponds, and rivers with thick plants and a soft sand or mud bottom. The water is neutral to slightly acidic and often shaded by overhanging growth. A planted tank with open swimming room and some shade matches their home. Keep the pH from 6 to 7.5 and temps in the low to mid 20s C.

Good to know

This is a small carp relative in the family Cyprinidae, reaching about 6 cm, with a silvery body, a dark stripe along the side, and a red base to the tail. They are egg scatterers with no parental care. The IUCN lists them as Least Concern, with stable wild populations across a wide range.

Did you know

The red tail patch is easy to miss in a quiet fish but flares up when a school is settled and well fed, and it shows most against a dark substrate and planted background. In a bare bright tank the same fish can look washed out, which is why so many people underrate them at the shop.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Red-tailed 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-tailed rasbora need?

A Red-tailed rasbora needs at least 18 gal (70 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Red-tailed rasbora need?

A Red-tailed rasbora is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big does a Red-tailed rasbora get?

An adult Red-tailed rasbora reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

Does a Red-tailed rasbora need a group?

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

Related species