Fire Rasbora (Rasboroides Vaterifloris)

Fire Rasboras are a peaceful and timid schooling species, so should be housed in groups of eight or more individuals. Keeping a school will provide them with a sense of security and help them deal with more boisterous tank mates. These Rasboras are best kept on their own because they quickly get timorous and out-competed for food by bigger, boisterous tankmates when kept in community aquariums. The species can, however, be kept in a community aquarium with other small, equally friendly and timid species.

The Fire Rasbora has a small, slender oval-shaped body and a forked caudal fin and is pale orange with richer red colouration in the fins.

Both the body and the fin colour vary in this species depending on which areas they originated. The body colour can vary from blue to red and the fins can have several colours, but red, yellow and orange fins are the most sought after in the aquarium trade. Therefore usually the colours you will see in aquariums. Some individuals even exhibit a blue sheen on the flanks.

Photos

Natural Habitat

Feeding

In the home aquarium, the Fire 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.