Strawberry Rasbora (Boraras naevus)
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.
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| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Boraras naevus |
| Other Names | None |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Boraras |
| Origins | Thailand |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 8+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | up to 8 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 4.0 - 7.0 |
| GH | 3 - 12 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 68 - 82℉ 20 - 27.8℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Strawberry 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.
Sexual Dimorphism
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.