Yellowtail Rasbora (Rasbora tornieri)
Yellowtail Rasboras are a peaceful and timid species making them excellent members of a well-researched community aquarium. However, these fish are intolerant to the buildup of organic wastes and require pristine water at all times to thrive, meaning a strict maintenance regime is essential. Therefore these fish are not suitable for a beginner aquarist.
Yellowtail Rasboras are a schooling species in nature, so ideally, you should purchase and keep these Rasboras in groups of at least six individuals. Maintaining these fish in good numbers will not only make the fish less nervous but will result in a more natural-looking arrangement. At the same time, males will exhibit some exciting behaviours as they compete with each other for female attention.
You can keep these Rasboras in a species-only aquarium or house them with similarly sized species with the same peaceful temperament. However, it would be best if you did not keep these fish with much larger, more boisterous or aggressive species.
Yellowtail Rasboras can grow to 15 cm in length; therefore, it is recommended that you have an aquarium of at least 225 litres to maintain a shoal of these fish. Also, make sure you have a tight-fitting lid, as these fish may jump if they feel threatened.
Yellowtail Rasboras will do better in a heavily planted aquarium or a set-up designed to mirror a flowing river with a substrate of different sized gravel and stones, some large smooth rocks and medium water movement. You can also add some driftwood alongside some hardy aquatic plants.
Yellowtail Rasboras have a silvery body with a thick, dark brown, prominent midlateral stripe extending from the operculum to the caudal fin base. Above that, they have a second light yellowish coloured stripe. Finally, they have a bright yellow caudal fin that is edged with black.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rasbora tornieri |
| Other Names | None |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Rasbora |
| Origins | Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 5 - 8 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 7.5 |
| GH | 10 - 15 |
| TDS | 18 - 179 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 72 - 81℉ 22.2 - 27.2℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Yellowtail 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 relatively easy to differentiate between female and male Yellowtail Rasboras. Mature females are noticeably rounder-bellied and often a little larger than males. In contrast, males are smaller, and the yellow stripe on males is more intense than the females.