Dwarf Rasbora (Boraras maculatus)

The Dwarf Rasbora, also known as the Spotted Rasbora (Boraras maculatus), is a very peaceful species that are most suited to a nano or heavily planted aquarium. However, even though these fish are pretty small, they still require a decent amount of swimming space.

Dwarf Rasboras are shoaling fish; therefore, it would be best to keep them in a group of at least eight individuals. Keeping this species in more extensive shoals will not only result in a more colourful display but will make your fish feel more secure and more active.

Unfortunately, Dwarf Rasboras are not suitable for the typical community aquarium due to their very timid nature and small size. In addition, these fish are easily stressed if kept with most other species. They are, however, suitable for aquariums with other nervous and tiny fish species such as other small Rasboras, small Danios, Dwarf Barbs such as the Golden Dwarf Barb, Pygmy Corydoras and smaller Loaches.

The ideal aquarium setup for these Dwarf Rasboras would contain a soft, sandy substrate and a few driftwood roots and branches to provide plenty of shaded areas. The addition of dried leaf litter will further emphasise the natural feel and boost microbial colonies growth as decomposition occurs. You can leave the leaves in the aquarium to break down entirely, or you can remove them and replace them every few weeks.

It would be better to use fairly dim lighting to simulate the fish's natural habitat, adding aquatic plants that will survive under these conditions, such as Microsorum, Java Moss, Anubias and Cryptocoryne. Also, filtration does not need to be particularly strong as these fish mainly come from sluggish and still waters and may struggle if there is a fast current.

The overall body colour of Dwarf Rasboras is orangy-red. They possess a large dark spot on the side of their body, a small dark spot on the base of their caudal fin and a smaller dark spot at the bottom of the anal fin. In addition, their dorsal and anal fin has dark markings along the anterior edge highlighted with intense red on males. The size and shape of the dark marking at the base of the anal fin can be highly variable and may be represented by two distinct markings.

The Dwarf Rasboras is closely related to several other species such as Chilli Rasbora, Phoenix Rasbora and the Exclamation Point Rasbora and can be somewhat challenging to differentiate to the untrained eye.

Dwarf Rasbora (Boraras maculatus) Video

Dwarf Rasbora (Boraras maculatus) Rare Freshwater Nano Aquarium Fish Profile & Care

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Natural Habitat

Feeding

In the home aquarium, the Dwarf Rasbora will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.

Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.

It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.

This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.

Tank Mates

1 interesting tank mate ideas for the Dwarf Rasbora could include:

Sexual Dimorphism

It is very straightforward to differentiate the males from female Dwarf Rasboras. The females have much rounder bellies and are typically larger than males. In contrast, males are slender and have more intense colouring than females, especially the dominant males.