Strawberry Rasbora (Boraras naevus) Species Profile & Care Guide

The Strawberry Rasbora is a stunning nano fish that is quite popular amongst aquarists due to its schooling nature, peaceful temperament, and petite size. This schooling fish can be the focal point in any peaceful community aquarium, and it stands out in the planted aquarium.

Strawberry Rasboras are safe with other peaceful, small fish, and due to their extra small size and friendly demeanour, you can safely keep it with dwarf shrimp. More significant, peaceful invertebrates can also make excellent tankmates. However, it is not advisable to house these fish in a community tank.

It would be more beneficial for your fish if you kept them in groups of 6 or more individuals, although the more you have, the more captivating your aquarium looks.

This species is often confused with the Chili Rasbora as they look very similar. However, the Strawberry Rasbora is distinguished by a large black spot situated in its body's centre and two smaller dark dots. You will find one at its tails base and the other at the caudal fin's base, as well as the bright ruby colouration that males often display.

Natural Habitat of the Strawberry Rasbora

Strawberry Rasboras are endemic to the north Surat Thani city and Surat Thani province in southern Peninsular Thailand in Southeast Asia. These fish inhabit slow-flowing, shallow clear waters in swamps, marshes and rice paddies. These waters contain acidic water, rich in tannins that are heavily vegetated with leaf litter.

Other Rasboras of interest

Diet

In the aquarium, Strawberry Rasboras are not fussy eaters. They will accept high quality dried foods such as flakes and granules of a suitable size; however, you should not feed this exclusively. Daily meals of small live and frozen fares such as artemia, microworms, tubifex, finely chopped bloodworms or daphnia will result in your fish's best health and colouration. They will also encourage the fish to come into breeding conditions.

Sexing the Strawberry Rasbora

It is straightforward to distinguish male from female Strawberry Rasboras. Males are slimmer and much brighter in colour, whereas females are usually larger with rounder bellies and display a more washed colouration than males. Also, the dark spot on the flanks is noticeably larger on male fish.

Breeding the Strawberry Rasbora

Like most small Cyprinids, the Strawberry Rasbora continuously scatters its eggs, and both parents lack parental care; therefore, they will consume their eggs if they find them.

The adult pair will lay a small number of eggs daily, so if your tank is heavily planted, there is a good chance that some will hatch eventually.

For a better success rate, a more controlled and supervised approach is required. Place 2 to 3 pairs in a separate breeding tank and condition them with plenty of live or frozen food for optimal spawning results.

It would be better if you placed the tank in a low light area and cover the bottom with plastic mesh; this will ensure that the fish cannot reach and eat any fallen eggs. The temperature should be slightly higher than the usual range, and you should use a small air-powered sponge filter. Adding some Java moss or spawning mops into the aquarium is also advised.

Once spawning has taken place, you should expect the eggs to hatch two or three days later. The fry will consume their yolk sacs for around another 24 hours or so. After this time, they will require microscopic food. A week to 10 days later, you will be able to feed them newly hatched microworms and brine shrimp.

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