Strawberry rasbora
Boraras naevus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 5.0–7.0
- Adult size
- 0.8 in
- 2 cm
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal
- 40 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Egg scatterer · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Origin
- Southern peninsular Thailand (Tapi river drainage)
Overview
The strawberry rasbora is a tiny, peaceful fish that holds to the middle and upper water. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.
Did you know
The strawberry rasbora was only formally described in 2011. That makes it a fairly recent arrival in the hobby compared to its better-known cousins.
Caring for the strawberry rasbora
Keep strawberry rasboras in a group of 8 to 10 or more in a tank of 11 gal (40 L) or larger. They get nervous and lose color in smaller numbers. Plant the tank densely over a dark substrate. Scatter leaf litter on the bottom, keep the flow gentle and keep the lighting low.
Keep the water soft and acidic to neutral, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. They react badly to swings, so add them only to a mature, fully cycled tank and go slow on changes. Feed small foods their mouths can manage, such as crushed flake, micro pellets and frozen daphnia or baby brine shrimp.
Strawberry rasboras are peaceful shoaling fish. Pair them only with tiny, calm species and shrimp, since anything large or boisterous will outcompete or eat them.
Males carry a bold red body with a single dark blotch on the side. Adults scatter their eggs among fine plants and moss and give no parental care. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Good to know
The strawberry rasbora is a tiny cyprinid, one of the dwarf rasboras in the genus Boraras. Its species name, naevus, means birthmark or mole in Latin, after the dark blotch on the male's side. Most fish for sale are tank bred for the trade.
In the wild
Strawberry rasboras come from slow blackwater streams and swampy pools in the Tapi river drainage of southern peninsular Thailand. The water there is soft, acidic and stained dark by leaf litter. Dim light filters through the overhanging plants.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The strawberry rasbora is a peaceful, shoaling 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Prambanan snail
Thiara winteri
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Tiger schismatogobius
Schismatogobius ampluvinculus
Freshwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Borneo gold spot halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon tengah
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a strawberry rasbora need?
A strawberry rasbora needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a strawberry rasbora need?
A strawberry rasbora is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.
What does a strawberry rasbora eat?
A strawberry rasbora eats small foods its mouth can manage, such as crushed flake, micro pellets and frozen daphnia or baby brine shrimp.
How big does a strawberry rasbora get?
An adult strawberry rasbora reaches about 0.8 in (2 cm).
Does a strawberry rasbora need a group?
Yes. A strawberry rasbora is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
How can you tell a male strawberry rasbora from a female?
Males carry a bold red body with a single dark blotch on the side.
How does a strawberry rasbora breed?
Strawberry rasboras scatter their eggs among fine plants and moss and give no parental care. Breeding them is moderately difficult.
Related species
0.8 in (2 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Chili rasbora
Boraras brigittae
0.8 in (2 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)
0.8 in (2 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Phoenix rasbora
Boraras merah
0.8 in (2 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
0.6 in (1.6 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Exclamation-point rasbora
Boraras urophthalmoides
0.6 in (1.6 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
1 in (2.5 cm)7 gal (25 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Dwarf rasbora
Boraras maculatus
1 in (2.5 cm) · 7 gal (25 L)
0.6 in (1.5 cm)8 gal (30 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Micro rasbora
Boraras micros
0.6 in (1.5 cm) · 8 gal (30 L)
0.8 in (2 cm)12 gal (45 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Blue axelrodi rasbora
Sundadanio axelrodi
0.8 in (2 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)