Sidestripe rasbora
Rasbora paviana
Also known as Pavie's rasbora, Rasbora paviei, Pavei rasbora
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 3.1 in
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 32 gal
- 120 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Origin
- Widespread in streams, rivers, and pools across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and the northern Malay Peninsula.
Overview
Keep sidestripe rasboras in a group of at least eight in a tank of 120 litres or more, since at around 8 cm they are active swimmers that want length. Water at 22 to 26 C with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and soft to medium hardness suits them well. Feed flakes, micropellets, and frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworm. They are very peaceful and make a good dither fish for larger community and soft-water tanks.
In the wild
The sidestripe rasbora lives in both fast forest hill streams and slower lowland pools and rivers across mainland Southeast Asia. It shoals in open midwater and adapts to a fair range of conditions. A thin dark line runs along the flank, giving the fish its name. It is a hardy, undemanding shoaling rasbora for a roomy community tank.
Good to know
This fish is very often sold under the invalid spelling Rasbora paviei, which was corrected to Rasbora paviana by Kottelat in 2005. It reaches about 8 cm, larger than most of the popular nano rasboras. Its broad range and tolerance of different waters make it one of the easier larger rasboras.
Did you know
Because it is calm, hardy, and always on the move, it works well as a dither fish that helps shy tankmates such as gouramis or dwarf cichlids feel safe enough to come out.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Sidestripe 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.
Moustached danio
Danio dangila
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Upside-down catfish
Synodontis nigriventris
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Shortfin molly
Poecilia mexicana
FreshwaterBrackish4.3 in (11 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common hatchetfish
Gasteropelecus sternicla
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 33 gal (125 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Cambodian log sucker
Garra cambodgiensis
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)68–81°F (20–27°C)
Black-banded rainbowfish
Melanotaenia nigrans
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Sidestripe rasbora need?
A Sidestripe rasbora needs at least 32 gal (120 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Sidestripe rasbora need?
A Sidestripe rasbora is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Sidestripe rasbora get?
An adult Sidestripe rasbora reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).
Does a Sidestripe rasbora need a group?
Yes. A Sidestripe rasbora is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Brilliant rasbora
Rasbora einthovenii
3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)32 gal (120 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Slender rasbora
Rasbora daniconius
3.9 in (10 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)18 gal (70 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Red-tailed rasbora
Rasbora borapetensis
2.4 in (6 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)45 gal (170 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)Scissortail rasbora
Rasbora trilineata
5.5 in (14 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)
1.8 in (4.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Volcano rasbora
Rasbora vulcanus
1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)34 gal (130 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Clown rasbora
Rasbora kalochroma
3.9 in (10 cm) · 34 gal (130 L)