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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
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam

Overview

The red-tailed rasbora is a small, peaceful schooling fish for a planted community tank. It is a good first fish.

Did you know

The red-tailed rasbora's red tail patch is easy to miss in a quiet fish. It flares up when a school is settled and well fed, and it shows most against a dark substrate and a 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.

Caring for the red-tailed rasbora

Keep red-tailed rasboras in a group of at least six, which helps them feel secure and stay active. A tank of 18 gal (70 L) suits a school. Give them a planted tank with open swimming room and some shade.

Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed quality flake and micro pellets, plus the occasional frozen or live food such as daphnia to keep their color up.

Red-tailed rasboras are peaceful and swim in the middle and upper water. They pair well with other small, calm community fish. They are egg scatterers with no parental care, and breeding them is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

The red-tailed rasbora is a small carp relative in the family Cyprinidae. It has a silvery body, a dark stripe along the side and a red base to the tail. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern, with stable wild populations across a wide range.

In the wild

Red-tailed rasboras come from Southeast Asia, across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. They live 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.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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.

What does a red-tailed rasbora eat?

A red-tailed rasbora eats quality flake and micro pellets. Add the occasional frozen or live food, such as daphnia, to keep its color up.

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.

How does a red-tailed rasbora breed?

Red-tailed rasboras scatter their eggs and give no parental care. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.

Related species