Fire Rasbora

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Moderate   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 2"
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons   • Water Conditions: 76-84° F; pH 6.0-7.0; dH 2-10
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: Sri Lanka   • Family: Cyprinidae
• Species: Rasboras   • Aquarium Type: Community

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Fire Rasbora (Rasboroides vaterifloris) are endemic to the lakes, streams and river basins of southwestern Sri Lanka. They live in large schools of individuals, which provides them protection from larger predators. Fire Rasbora are found inhabiting densely planted water ways, where they prey on small insects and micro-crustaceans.

Along with schooling together in large groups Fire Rasbora also jump from the waters surface to avoid predators, thus it is important to house them in well covered aquariums. Fire Rasbora are a shy fish species that should be housed in calm, peaceful planted community aquariums and southern Asian biotope aquariums. Both wild caught and farm raised specimens are available within the aquarium hobby.

Fire Rasbora are a shy schooling species, thus they should be housed in groups of 8 or more individuals. Keeping a school will provide the Fire Rasbora with a sense of security and help them deal with more boisterous tank mates. Aquariums housing Fire Rasbora should also be designed with their needs and natural habitat in mind.

The aquarium should contain plenty of dense vegetation for the Fire Rasbora to retreat into when threatened; as well as, to provide them a place to forage for small pieces of plant matter or detritus. Tank mates should consist of other peaceful fish species and smaller semi-aggressive community fish species. Substrate can vary from sand to gravel, along with plenty of plants, rocks, driftwood, root or other structures within the aquarium.

Moderate water flow, warm water and stable water parameters are also important in order to simulate the Fire Rasboras natural habitat. Fire Rasbora really shine when housed in well planted aquariums with dark sandy substrate and subdued or filtered lighting.

Wild Fire Rasbora feed mostly on small insects, insect larvae, algae and organic plant matter. They will quickly adapt to commercial aquarium foods designed for tropical freshwater fish species. Their diet should consist of a variety of foods in order to provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to support a healthy immune system.

Recommended food items include high quality commercial flake foods, live or freeze-dried bloodworms, daphnia, baby brine shrimp, artemia or other similar food items. Feed smaller amounts of food 2 to 3 times per day an amount of food that the fish will consume within a few minutes.