Sumatran rasbora

Rasbora sumatrana

Also known as Sumatrana rasbora

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F (22–27°C)
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 5.1 in (13 cm)
Minimum tank: 42 gal (160 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Mainland Southeast Asia and Sundaland
Family: Danionidae

Overview

The Sumatran rasbora is a robust, larger rasbora for general communities, an easy and trouble-free fish that cruises the middle of a long tank. Keep a group of at least six, more if there is room, and pair it with other active, peaceful fish of similar size such as barbs and loaches. It is entirely unfussy about food, taking flake, pellets, and frozen or live items with equal readiness. Because of its adult size and love of open water, give a shoal a tank of around 160 liters or larger with room to swim and a current to work against.

In the wild

It ranges widely through mainland Southeast Asia and Sundaland, in streams and creeks with moderate to swift, relatively cool and well-oxygenated water. Give it a long tank with steady flow, open water, and some wood and plants for structure. Keep the temperature between 22 and 27 C and the pH from 5.5 to 7.5, from soft and acidic to neutral.

Good to know

Rasbora sumatrana, family Danionidae, is a larger rasbora reaching about 13 centimeters. Despite the name it is found far beyond Sumatra, across much of the Southeast Asian mainland and the Sunda islands, and it heads a species group that taxonomists continue to untangle. Its aquarium breeding is not recorded, though it is an egg-scattering spawner like its relatives.

Did you know

The species is named for Sumatra, but it turns up across a huge stretch of Southeast Asia; the label really marks where the first described specimen happened to be caught rather than where the fish mostly lives.