Neon Blue Rasbora (Sundadanio axelrodi)
The Blue Neon Rasbora is a peaceful, active and good looking schooling fish. These Rasboras make a great addition to planted aquariums with other small and peaceful species. It is not recommended to keep them with large, fast-moving species, or they will feel threatened, and worse, get eaten as they are so small. These fish do best when kept in groups of six or more. These fish are active and seem to enjoy areas with little flow as well as quieter spots.
The Blue Neon Rasbora needs specific water parameters a right environment and excellent water quality to thrive, so, therefore, are not recommended for the beginner aquarist.
The Blue Neon Rasbora has a glittery looking iridescent dark blue upper body, and a red mid-lower body and the rest of the body is transparent. The males have a black anal fin, and this usually goes a dark black when they are dominant. The fin looks somewhat odd and could be mistaken for fish waste hanging from the fish.
There are several colour varieties of this fish. These include copper-clear, neon-copper, neon-blue and neon-green.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sundadanio axelrodi |
| Other Names | Axelrods Rasbora |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Sundadanio |
| Origins | Indonesia |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | 2 - 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 4.0 - 6.5 |
| GH | 2 - 5 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 73 - 79℉ 22.8 - 26.1℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Neon Blue 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 Neon Blue Rasbora could include:
Sexual Dimorphism
It is relatively simple to distinguish males from female Blue Neon Rasboras. Males are much more colourful usually with more blue on the flanks, are noticeably slimmer than females and also exhibit dark colouration in the anal and ventral fins whereas females have a colourless anal fin.