Freshwater fish profile: Red Tailed Rasbora

[corykid]

Rasbora borapetensis
Passed over prize


picture from http://www.tropicalresources.net/php...rapetensis.php

Name(s):
Scientific- Rasbora borapetensis
Common- Red Tailed Rasbora, Blackline Rasbora, Bora Bora Rasbora

Family: Cyprinidae

Description: The name Red Tailed Rasbora perfectly describes the most eye catching feature of this fish, the red which accents its forked tail at the end of its long slender body, light gold in color it has a dark black line horizontally dividing its body. This black line is complemented by a dark gold line which runs parallel just above it. There is little that separates the male and female as their colors are the same, but once adult size has been reached the female will be slightly larger then the male. If kept in good conditions a healthy adult Red Tailed Rasbora can reach a maximum length of three inches.

Origin: Southeast Asia

Aquarium Needs: When it comes to tank size, I would recommend nothing less then 20(U.S.) gallons, and it is essential that the Red Tailed Rasbora be kept in a long aquarium and not tall, as this fish enjoys spending most of its day quickly schooling back and forth.

Current in the aquarium requires no need for any kind of power head, as the water fall of a HOB filter will make an adequate amount of water movement for this fish, who from my experience does not enjoy a strong current in its environment.

One of the most ask questions of an aquarium hobbyist is planted or not? And I find when it comes to this fish that a planted tank is a must, not just for the fact that I think any responsible fish keeper should provide the most natural environment for their fish which cannot be supplemented with plastic plants, but because the Red Tailed Rasbora is an omnivore, as I have witnessed my own snacking on small pieces of plants floating in the water, and it feels most secure in a thick planted environment.

Water conditions can be lenient as this is a very hardy fish, but ideal conditions would be soft slightly acidic water ranging in temperature anywhere from 70- 78F.

Feeding time with Red Tailed Rasboras is a show, as they are very spastic eaters who will take anything that they can fit in their mouths, but with any healthy diet make sure to feed a high quality flake food, and meaty foods such as blood worms, this is the diet that I have found successful with my fish.

The one most important aspect of the Red Tailed Rasbora that should not be passed over is that it is a true schooling fish, although they do stray from the pack to eat or to pursue their curiosity, they will almost always be observed together in a tight school racing back and forth at mid to high aquarium level.

Tank mates is an important choice you will have to make when it comes to your aquarium, luckily you will have no problems with the Red Tailed Rasbora who is a peace loving fish which can be housed with other peaceful species such as loaches, small and large tetras, livebreeders, plecos, rainbowfish, and with my experience they can also be housed with some semi-aggressive cichlids such as angles.But they may possibly out compete slower moving fish during feeding time.

Disease concerns: As this is a very hardy scaled fish, any type of disease should be of no concern if kept in a healthy environment. But upon discovery of any type of disease such fish should be quarantined if possible, the temperature in the quarantine tank should be raised to 80F, and small amounts of aquarium salt should be added, this will aid in curing the diseased fish, and stopping the spread of disease to other tank mates.

Breeding Information:The overall view is that this species is difficult to breed, but it is thought that they require a temperature approximately 80F. They are egg-layers, and tend to nest them in bunches. I have not attempted to breed my Rasoboras, so I cannot confirm this

Personal Comments: I find that I can say with confidence that this may possibly be the hardiest fish that you will ever keep, as that has been my experience. After a short accumulation and a horrible bag dropping, my school of five was happily eating within three minutes of being place into their new home, for anyone who has ever kept fish this is a rather surprising sight to see. I know that this fish will have been and will still be passed over and over again by all aquarium hobbyist because it is not incredibly eye catching at first glance and its true beauty cannot be revealed until it is home happily schooling in your community aquarium, and you are happily gazing at it.



References: http://species.fishindex.com/species...rasbora .html
http://www.tropicalresources.net/php...rapetensis.php


Written By: E.C.M.C / corykid

[corykid]

any other pics would be great...only the second pic is mine, i have alot of trouble getting close ups lol

[nursie]

Thanks Corykid for writing and posting this!! Anyone with their own experiences with these fish feel free to post info and pics too.

[OrionGirl]

Originally Posted by corykid

Rasbora borapetensis
Passed over prize

Name(s):
Scientific- Rasbora borapetensis
Common- Red Tailed Rasbora, Blackline Rasbora, Bora Bora Rasbora

Family: Cyprinidae

Description: The name Red Tailed Rasbora perfectly describes the most eye-catching feature of this fish. The red accents its forked tail at the end of its long, slender body. Light gold in color, it has a dark black line horizontally dividing its body. This black line is complemented by a dark gold line running parallel just above it. There is little that separates the male and female as their colors are the same, but once adult size has been reached the female will be slightly larger then the male. If kept in good conditions a healthy adult Red Tailed Rasbora can reach a maximum length of three inches.

Origin: Southeast Asia

Aquarium Needs: When it comes to tank size, I recommend nothing less then 20(U.S.) gallons, and it is essential that the Red Tailed Rasbora be kept in a longer aquarium, as opposed to a taller tank, as this fish enjoys spending most of its day quickly schooling back and forth.

The water fall of a HOB filter will make an adequate amount of water movement for this fish, who from my experience does not enjoy a strong current in its environment.

One of the most asked questions of an aquarium hobbyist is planted or not? I find when it comes to this fish that a planted tank is a must, not just because I think any responsible fish keeper should provide the most natural environment for their fish, but because the Red Tailed Rasbora is an omnivore. I have witnessed my own snacking on small pieces of plants floating in the water, and it feels most secure in a thick planted environment.

Water conditions can vary as this is a very hardy fish, but ideal conditions would be soft slightly acidic water ranging in temperature anywhere from 70- 78F.

Feeding time with Red Tailed Rasboras is a show, as they are very spastic eaters who will take anything that they can fit in their mouths. For a healthy diet make sure to feed a high quality flake food, and meaty foods such as blood worms. This is the diet that I have found successful with my fish.

The one most important aspect of the Red Tailed Rasbora that should not be passed over is that it is a true schooling fish. Although they do stray from the pack to eat or to pursue their curiosity, they will almost always be observed together in a tight school racing back and forth at mid to high aquarium level.

Tank mates are an important choice to make when it comes to your aquarium, luckily you will have no problems with the Red Tailed Rasbora who is a peaceful fish, though they may outcompete slower moving fish during feeding time.

Disease concerns: As this is a very hardy scaled fish, any type of disease should be of no concern if kept in a healthy environment.

Breeding Information: I have never tried to breed any of my fish. The overall view is that this is a very hard fish to breed, but it is thought to require a temperature of around 80F, and lay eggs in nest like bunches.

Personal Comments: I say with confidence that this may possibly be the hardiest fish that you will ever keep, as that has been my experience. After a short accumulation and a horrible bag dropping, my school of five was happily eating within three minutes of being placed into their new home. This fish may be passed over some because it is not incredibly eye catching at first glance, but its true beauty is best revealed as it happily schools in your community aquarium, and you are happily gazing at it.

References: http://species.fishindex.com/species...rasbora .html

Written By: E.C.M.C / corykid

Just few suggestions. Try having more focused sentences--short, to the point. I'd include some pictures, as well, and you could easily add the specific pH range. Some specific tank mates would be good too.

We do have articles and species profiles for this site--would you like to submit this as such?

[corykid]

thanks again Lila

i will sure make some more changes alittle later....for now tho, it is time to sleep lol

and yes the time is wrong lol it is really 11 here not 8

[corykid]

ok so i added one pic from the net, and another at the bottom of two of my own Red Tails, and i did some corrections in my work, so its all good, thanks again for all the help

[FreddytheFish]

A pic from the net? Where?

There could be some copyright issues if you just grabbed a picture and stuck it on an article.

[nursie]

AFAIK, pics in the public domain are usable. People who do not want their work linked or copied have it protected so you can't.
That said....what Corykid has done giving reference to the site and giving them credit is classy and well done, thanks!