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Sarawak rasbora

Rasbora sarawakensis

Also known as Sarawak blue-line rasbora

FreshwaterFish

Sarawak rasbora (Rasbora sarawakensis)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
2.2 in
5.5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Danionidae
Origin
Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Overview

The Sarawak rasbora is an active schooling fish from Borneo that swims in the middle of a planted tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The Sarawak rasbora is named simply for the Malaysian state where it was found. It is so little kept that specialists are not even sure how often it reaches the trade. It usually arrives by accident among other wild-caught Bornean fish.

Caring for the Sarawak rasbora

Keep at least eight Sarawak rasboras together for a confident shoal, in a planted tank of 20 gal (75 L) or more. They look their best against dark wood and a planted background, with open water for swimming.

Give them soft, gently filtered water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. They like slow-moving water rather than a strong current. They are not fussy about food and take flake, small pellets, and frozen or live foods such as daphnia and bloodworm.

Sarawak rasboras are active and very peaceful, and they mix happily with other small, gentle Bornean species. Breeding them takes moderate effort, and it follows the usual egg-scattering pattern of the genus.

Good to know

The Sarawak rasbora, Rasbora sarawakensis, belongs to the family Danionidae. It carries a dark blue-black stripe beneath a thin gold one, which gives it the trade name blue-line rasbora. It is poorly documented in the aquarium literature.

In the wild

The Sarawak rasbora comes from clear and lightly tannin-stained forest streams in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The streams have thick vegetation along their margins and moderate light.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Sarawak 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 Sarawak rasbora need?

A Sarawak rasbora needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Sarawak rasbora need?

A Sarawak rasbora is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a Sarawak rasbora eat?

A Sarawak rasbora is not fussy about food. It takes flake, small pellets, and frozen or live foods such as daphnia and bloodworm.

How big does a Sarawak rasbora get?

An adult Sarawak rasbora reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

Does a Sarawak rasbora need a group?

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

How does a Sarawak rasbora breed?

A Sarawak rasbora breeds in the egg-scattering way usual for its genus. Breeding it takes moderate effort.

Related species