The Dwarf Rasbora is a peaceful and beautiful freshwater fish that is perfect for beginners. They’re very easy to care for and can be kept in a variety of different tank setups.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about Dwarf Rasbora care. You’ll learn about their diet, size, lifespan, and more!
Table of contents
Species overview
Dwarf rasboras (Boraras brigittae) are a small species of fish that are native to the island of Borneo.
They are found in slow-moving streams and rivers with a lot of vegetation. This provides them with plenty of places to hide and forage for food.
Dwarf rasboras are a peaceful fish that is compatible with a wide variety of tank mates. They are a schooling fish, so it is best to keep them in groups of 6 or more.
The main attraction of the dwarf rasbora is its bright coloration. These fish are red with black stripes running down their sides. This makes them a popular choice for freshwater nano aquariums.
Appearance
The Dwarf Rasbora is a small and slender freshwater fish. As their name suggests, they don’t grow to be very big at all. In fact, most Dwarf Rasboras only grow to be about 1.5 inches long.
They have a long and thin body that is dark brown or black in color. This coloration fades to a lighter brown or tan on their undersides.
There is a dark stripe that runs along their body from their snout all the way to the base of their tail. This stripe is usually black but can be a dark brown in some cases.
The fins on a Dwarf Rasbora are all translucent. The dorsal fin is small and starts about halfway back on their body. The anal fin is slightly larger and starts just behind the dorsal fin.
The caudal fin is forked and symmetrical. The pectoral fins are small and located just behind the gill plates.
The eyes of a Dwarf Rasbora are fairly large and sit on the top of their head. They have a small mouth that is located at the bottom of their snout.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of dwarf rasboras is 3 to 5 years. As with most fish, there are a number of factors that impact their life expectancy.
One of the biggest is the level of care they receive. If they’re in a well-maintained tank with good water quality, they’ll obviously live longer than if they’re in subpar conditions.
Another big factor is whether or not they reproduce. If they don’t, they’ll usually live on the higher end of the lifespan range.
Size
Dwarf rasboras only grow to be about 1.5 inches in length when fully mature. This makes them one of the smaller freshwater aquarium fish species that you can choose from.
Tank
Tank Size
Because they are such small fish, the minimum tank size for dwarf rasboras is 10 gallons. However, we recommend going up to a 20 gallon tank if you can. This will give you some extra room to add more fish or plants as needed.
The extra space will also give the fish a little more room to swim around and stay active.
Water Parameters
The ideal water parameters for a dwarf rasbora are pretty typical of many freshwater fish species.
That includes a moderate temperature, slightly acidic water, and plenty of oxygenation.
One difference is that they prefer a slightly higher level of hardness in their water. This is likely due to their natural habitat in Southeast Asia, where the water is often hard and alkaline.
While you don’t need to match these parameters precisely, it’s important to stay within the ballpark.
- Water temperature: 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
- pH levels: 6.0 to 7.8
- Water hardness: 4 to 12 dGH
- Alkalinity Levels: 3-8 dKH
What To Put In Their Tank
First and foremost, these fish come from slow-moving waters in the wild. As a result, they don’t require a ton of space to swim around.
Aquarists often make the mistake of thinking that because they’re small, they need a small tank. This isn’t the case.
While you don’t need a massive tank for them, something on the larger side is always better. We recommend a minimum of 20 gallons for a single fish. If you plan on keeping them in a group (which we highly recommend), you’ll need more space.
Another important aspect of their habitat is the water itself. In the wild, these fish come from waters with very little flow.
You don’t need to worry about getting a super powerful filter for their tank, but something that can generate a moderate amount of flow is ideal.
When it comes to decorating the inside of their tank there are a few things you can do.
First, we recommend adding some plants. These fish come from heavily vegetated areas and love having plants to hide in.
Second, we recommend adding some driftwood or rocks. These provide some great hiding spots and help break up the line of sight in the tank (which can be important for shy fish).
Lastly, we recommend a fine gravel substrate. Something too coarse can be tough on their delicate fins.
Common Diseases
When it comes to Dwarf rasbora care, there aren’t too many diseases that you need to worry about. These fish are relatively hardy and don’t seem to fall ill too often.
The most common disease that you’ll see in these fish is ich. This is a very common freshwater disease that is caused by a parasite.
The most obvious symptom of ich is the presence of white spots on the body of your fish. If you notice this, it’s important to take action immediately.
If left untreated, ich can be very serious (even fatal). The good news is that it’s relatively easy to treat. There are a number of different products on the market that will effectively kill the parasite.
Once you’ve treated your fish, it’s important to take steps to prevent ich from coming back. The most important thing you can do is to maintain clean and stable water conditions in your tank.
Behavior & Temperament
Dwarf rasboras are one of the best community fish you can find. They are peaceful, easy to care for, and make a beautiful addition to any freshwater tank.
Dwarf rasboras are schooling fish, so they do best in groups of six or more. When they’re in a group, they’re very active and love to swim around. They’re constantly on the move, exploring every inch of their environment.
You’ll often see them swimming near the surface of the water or close to the middle of the tank. They’re not afraid to venture to the top, but they’ll spend most of their time near the bottom.
Dwarf rasboras are very easy to care for and make a great addition to any freshwater tank.
Tank Mates
Dwarf rasboras are one of the best community fish out there. They’re peaceful, easy to care for, and make a beautiful addition to any freshwater aquarium.
When it comes to finding the perfect tank mates for dwarf rasboras, you have a lot of options.
These little guys are compatible with just about any fish that occupies a different part of the water column.
For example, you could add a school of neon tetras and a few corydoras catfish. The neon tetras would stick to the upper levels while the corydoras would hang out near the bottom.
Or, you could go with a completely different setup and add a school of guppies and a betta fish. The guppies would stick to the middle and upper levels while the betta would stay near the bottom.
Here are some other good tank mates for dwarf rasboras:
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Neon Tetra
- Cardinal Tetra
- Ember Tetra
- Ghost Shrimp
- Cherry Shrimp
- Corydoras Catfish
- Otocinclus Catfish
- Betta Fish
- Guppy
Breeding
Dwarf rasboras are easy to breed in the home aquarium. They are an egg-laying species that does not practice parental care. This means that the parents will not guard or fan the eggs.
To breed dwarf rasboras, start by setting up a separate breeding tank. It should hold at least 10 gallons of water. Then, add some live plants and a few hiding places. Driftwood pieces work well.
Next, adjust the water temperature to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, add a group of six to eight fish. Two females for every male is a good ratio.
Once the fish are acclimated, begin feeding them live foods. Bloodworms or brine shrimp work well.
When ready, the females will lay their eggs on the plants or driftwood. After they lay the eggs, the males will fertilize them.
Once the eggs are fertilized, the parents can be removed from the breeding tank. The eggs will hatch in about 24 hours.
Once the fry have hatched, they can be fed baby brine shrimp or other live foods. After a few weeks, they can be transitioned to flake food.
Conclusion
Dwarf rasboras are peaceful, social fish that make a great addition to any community tank. They’re easy to care for and are very resilient, which makes them a great choice for beginner aquarists.
We hope this guide has helped you learn everything you need to know about caring for your dwarf rasboras. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to us on social media or directly through our website. We enjoy talking with other aquarists and are always happy to help!
