You might be interested in rasboras because of how cute and colorful they are. There are different types of rasboras out there, and some of them are more colorful than others.
All of these fish like to be kept with others of their kind. It isn’t good to keep rasboras in tanks by themselves.
Are rasboras schooling fish, though? Continue reading to learn more about these fish and how many need to be kept in one tank.
You need to approach this situation properly or you could cause stress to the fish. Once you know everything, it’ll be easier to set up your first rasbora tank.
Rasboras Are Schooling Fish
Rasboras are indeed schooling fish. They like to be together and you’re supposed to keep quite a few of them in one tank.
These fish are known to live in schools when you find them in the wild. They’re going to live in rather large schools in the wild, but they can also live in small schools.
Owning and caring for schooling fish can be a beautiful experience. It allows you to enjoy watching active fish swim around in a group.
Since rasboras aren’t incredibly large, it isn’t that difficult to keep them in a home tank. Most rasboras are just a few inches long, but there are some that can grow to be up to six inches long.
Are All Types of Rasboras Schooling Fish?
All rasboras are known to be schooling fish. However, you might notice that your rasboras won’t school tightly in your tank.
For instance, there are harlequin rasbora owners who have noted that the fish don’t school as tightly once they become comfortable in an aquarium. They still school in the tank, but it isn’t quite what you’d expect.
So some rasboras might school tightly in captivity while others will not. They’re still schooling fish that need to be kept in groups to thrive.
How Many Rasboras in a School?
You want to have at least six rasboras in a school. It’s likely better to go for more fish than that.
Some people say that eight to ten should be the minimum number of rasboras in a school. This information differs slightly depending on the species that you’re talking about.
There isn’t a lot of information about the maximum number of rasboras you should keep in a fish tank. Many people keep rasboras in groups of fifteen or larger.
When keeping larger groups of rasboras in a fish tank, it’s important to ensure that the fish have enough room. Keeping the fish in a crowded tank won’t be a good experience.
Remember to buy a larger tank so that all of the fish can remain comfortable. If you want to use a smaller tank, it’d be best to stick closer to the minimum number of rasboras rather than exceeding it.
Do Rasboras Need to Be in Schools?
It’s important to keep rasboras in schools. If you choose to keep only a few rasboras in the tank they’re not going to do as well as you’d like them to.
Schooling fish are used to living in groups, and they’re not comfortable being in groups that are too small. This is why even keeping two or three rasboras together won’t be acceptable.
You might think that this would be fine, but it’s not going to be a normal situation for the fish. The fish won’t behave naturally if you keep them in small groups.
So make sure that you have a big enough tank for a group of rasboras. Otherwise, it’s not wise to keep rasboras in your home aquarium.
How Many Rasboras Should Be Kept Together?
You want to make sure that there are enough rasboras in the tank. If you keep too few rasboras in the aquarium the fish won’t feel comfortable.
It’s said that you need at least six rasboras in one fish tank. However, there are some who say that you should keep seven or eight fish in one tank.
Six does seem to be a safe number for most types of rasboras, though. You may want to look up how many fish you should buy based on the type of rasboras that you’re interested in.
If you don’t keep enough rasboras in the tank, it could make them feel stressed. Stress makes it more likely that the fish will get sick.
Also, it’s said that rasboras show their best colors when they’re kept in schools. So that should be enough incentive to buy enough rasboras to make them comfortable.
Will Different Types of Rasboras School Together?
Yes, there are some types of rasboras that are known to school with other rasbora species. However, not all rasboras are like this.
There are rasboras out there that will only school with their own kind. Some people specifically seek out rasboras from different species that will school together.
If you want to see if two types of rasboras will school together, it’s fine to do so. So long as the fish have similar water requirements and are compatible, you can put them in a fish tank to see if you can make it happen.
Rasboras are peaceful fish and they’re excellent choices for community aquariums. There are many types of rasboras that can live happily together in the same tank.
Can Rasboras Live Alone?
Putting one rasbora in a tank by itself would be cruel. This is not something you’re supposed to do.
As mentioned earlier, it’s best to keep rasboras in small groups. They’re schooling fish that feel more comfortable among their own kind.
You’re meant to keep six or more rasboras in a tank to keep them healthy. In some cases, you might want to keep eight to ten rasboras in the tank.
If you try to keep a rasbora in a fish tank alone, it’s going to become extremely stressed. Stress will make the fish more susceptible to diseases.
You might wind up killing the fish if you try to force it to live alone. Don’t do this because there’s no benefit to keeping a single rasbora in a fish tank.
How to Care for Rasboras
Caring for rasboras is going to be fairly simple. So long as you keep them in proper numbers, it’ll be easy to keep them healthy.
They can get sick and die if you do a very poor job caring for them, but they’re hardy fish. These are beginner-friendly fish that don’t require a huge commitment to stay healthy.
Even so, you do need to take care of the basics to keep the fish happy. This starts with getting the tank right.
Be sure to buy a tank that is the right size for these fish. They need plenty of room to swim around.
Different types of rasboras will have different tank size requirements. A 10-gallon aquarium will work great for chili rasboras, but scissortail rasboras will need something quite a bit larger.
Check the water parameters and be sure to monitor everything regularly. Test the water using a pH balance testing kit to keep everything in line.
Do regular water changes so the water can stay clean. It’s best to use a decent filter to make cleaning a lot simpler.
When buying a filter, be sure not to buy one that is overly powerful. Rasboras don’t like strong currents.
Community Tank Tips
These fish do work fantastically in community tanks, too. They’re peaceful fish that can get along with many other types of fish.
You still need to research compatibility to keep them safe, though. Remember that community fish tanks need to be larger since there will be even more fish than normal.
Some of the best options for tank mates for rasboras include cory catfish, dwarf gouramis, and danios fish. It’s best to look up individual information about compatibility based on the specific rasbora species that you own.
Final Thoughts
Learning more about rasboras should help you to appreciate them more. You now know that rasboras are schooling fish that must be kept in groups.
Never buy rasboras and put them in fish tanks alone. Keeping one rasbora in a tank by itself is cruel and it’ll only lead to bad things.
The fish might die due to stress within weeks if you choose to do this. Even keeping rasboras in groups of two or three won’t be acceptable.
It’s said that you must keep at least six rasboras in a fish tank to keep them safe. Some even say that number should be eight to ten, but it might depend on the type of rasbora that you wish to buy.
Don’t let this information scare you off. You can have a great experience caring for these schooling fish.
Many rasboras aren’t that big, and you can keep a small school of rasboras in a 10-gallon tank or a 20-gallon tank. Chili rasboras only grow to be one inch long and are great for people who don’t have space for huge tanks.
Caring for rasboras is very simple compared to many other types of fish. These are hardy fish that are easy for beginners to keep alive.
Enjoy your time with rasboras and continue to care for them to the best of your ability. It should bring a lot of joy to your life and you can enjoy seeing the rasboras school in your tank for years to come.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.