Rasboras are very popular fish that many people like keeping in their home aquariums. Generally, they’re not too tough to care for, but you still need to do things right to get good results.
Perhaps you’re new to fish keeping. You might want to learn a bit about rasbora care and what their requirements are before you move forward with buying them.
Below, you’ll learn everything you need to know about caring for rasboras. This should help you to make good choices so you can care for your rasboras properly.
These fish are fantastic to own, but you’ll do so much better if you understand the basics before buying them. Once you read everything, it’ll be simple to decide if these fish are right for you.
Rasbora Water Parameters
Whenever you’re caring for fish, it’s imperative to focus on monitoring the water conditions. You need to get the conditions in the tank right so the fish you’re caring for can live.
Fish need to be kept in water conditions that they can handle. Every fish has a preferred temperature range and pH balance range.
Ideally, you want to monitor the temperature and pH balance closely. Keeping an eye on the temperature is simple when you keep a thermometer in the tank.
Position it somewhere that will allow you to easily see the temperature in the water at a glance. So long as you’re using a heater, it shouldn’t be tough for the water to stay in the right temperature range.
The pH balance will require you to test the water to see where things are at. You can use pH balance testing kits that you buy from the store, and if things are off, you can use chemicals to make changes as necessary.
Rasbora pH
When caring for rasboras, you want to keep the pH balance in the tank between 6.8 and 7.8. You should also work to keep the alkalinity of the water between 50 ppm and 140 ppm.
Remember to test the water to see where the pH balance is every so often. Failure to do so could lead to issues.
It’s fine to test the water once per month, but most recommend testing once every two weeks. It’s simply a bit safer to check the water more often so that you don’t miss anything and accidentally harm your fish.
Fixing issues with the pH balance will be simple when using chemicals to adjust things. You can keep the tank in balance by cleaning it regularly, doing regular water changes, and ensuring that you use a filter.
Rasbora Temperature
Getting the temperature right in the tank matters as well. Rasboras prefer the water temperature to stay between 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
To keep the fish safe, it’s wise to use a heater in the fish tank. Even if you live in a nice warm home, the water temperature will fluctuate if you’re not using a heater.
Fish become stressed when the water temperature fluctuates. This is something that can make the fish sick, and you don’t want to put your fish through that.
So be sure to use a heater and set the temperature accordingly. If keeping rasboras in a community fish tank, make sure that all of the fish will be able to thrive in the same temperature range.
Do Rasboras Need a Filter?
Yes, it’s important to install a filter in the tank when you’re caring for rasboras. If you don’t, it’ll be a tough situation.
You see, without a filter, the tank is going to get dirty. It’ll make it hard to keep the tank clean since the filter won’t be there to help you out at all.
When picking a filter for rasboras, it’s best to pick a filter that isn’t too overpowering. Strong filters that create strong currents won’t be ideal for these fish.
Rasboras very much prefer slow-moving water because this emulates what they experience in nature. Keep this in mind when picking out a filter for the tank.
Do Rasboras Like Current?
It’s fine for rasboras to live in a tank that has a bit of a current. However, they don’t enjoy strong currents.
You must choose a filter that will only cause gentle water movement. Going with something more powerful can easily stress the fish.
So they don’t like the current all that much. They’re fine with gentle currents, but strong-moving currents will be very bad for them overall.
Do Rasboras Like Hard Water?
No, it’s not wise to keep your rasboras in a tank with hard water. These fish won’t survive for long in a tank with such water conditions.
These fish do best in soft water with acidic conditions. Do your best to get the parameters right so your fish can thrive under your care.
Do Rasboras Need a Heater?
Technically, rasboras can survive without a heater. However, it’s best to use one.
As mentioned earlier, heaters help to keep the water temperature consistent in the fish tank. Without a heater, the temperature will fluctuate, and this will stress the fish.
To keep your fish in good health, you will need to buy a filter. Use a filter that will work for the aquarium size that you’re using.
It’s especially important to use a heater during the cold seasons of the year. Be mindful of this, and just use a heater the entire year to be safe.
Are Rasboras Easy to Care For?
Rasboras are among the easiest fish to care for that you’ll find. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or if you have a lot of experience.
These fish are good options for beginners, but they’re also appealing to experience fish tank enthusiasts. Not only are these fish rather pretty, but they’re hardy enough that they can survive when you make a mistake or two.
Getting the water parameters right for these fish will not be difficult. If you take care of the basics, you’ll have a good time keeping rasboras in your home aquarium.
Keep the water temperature and pH balance in the right range. Feed the fish properly, clean the tank, and do regular water changes.
So long as you can handle that, it’ll be simple to keep rasboras in your aquarium. If you were on the fence about getting some of these fish, know that they’re beginner-friendly fish that will appeal to most people.
Rasbora Diet
In the wild, rasboras are known to eat worms, small crustaceans, zooplankton, and worms. In your fish tank, these fish will be eating mostly tropical fish flake food.
This isn’t all that you should feed the fish, though. Tropical fish flake food will be the staple food that you give the fish daily.
Then you will supplement the diet with live or freeze-dried foods that you buy from the pet store. It’s common for people to feed rasboras various types of worms as well as brine shrimp.
It should be noted that there are rasboras out there that are smaller than usual. These fish might require you to crush the fish flakes up so that they can eat due to having small mouths.
Average rasboras such as harlequin rasboras won’t have a hard time with normal food. Always consider the size of your fish and whether the food will fit in their mouths or not.
How Often to Feed Rasboras
You want to make sure that you feed your rasboras often enough to keep them in good shape. It’s best to feed the rasboras three times per day.
Try your best to space the feedings out. You don’t want to feed them too much in a short period.
The school of rasboras will thrive if you feed them three times a day like this. Each time you feed them, it’s best to feed them as much as they can eat in three minutes.
Stick to this method, and your fish will continue to look healthy. You can give rasboras snacks a few times per week as well.
How Long Do Rasboras Live?
Most types of rasboras can live for around five years. However, there are different types of rasboras out there.
Depending on the species that you’re talking about, some might live longer or shorter lives. There are rasboras that only live for around three years, and some can live for up to eight years.
So it’s best to check based on the type of rasbora that you own. This will tell you what to expect as far as life expectancy goes.
Remember that fish can die long before they reach their maximum lifespan. If you don’t do a good job caring for the fish, they’ll wind up dying years sooner than they should.
To keep rasboras alive for as long as possible, remember the information that you learned above. Care for the fish well, and they should have the best shot of living for many years in your fish tank.
What Size Fish Tank Is Best for Rasboras?
The best fish tank size for rasboras will depend on the type that you’re caring for. Some will do fine in small 10-gallon fish tanks.
There are also fish that are a bit too big for tanks of that size. For example, scissortail rasboras grow to be up to six inches long.
People often keep these fish in 20-gallon fish tanks, but you might even want to go with a 29-gallon tank, depending on how many you want to keep.
Research the best fish tank size based on the type of rasbora that you want to buy. Chili rasboras are rather small and are perfect for those who only have enough room for a small fish tank.
Are Rasboras Schooling Fish?
Yes, rasboras are schooling fish. You’re not supposed to keep just one or two rasboras in a fish tank.
To keep these fish happy, you will need to buy at least seven of them for your tank. Most experts say that keeping rasboras in groups of seven or more will be the best route to take.
When these fish have enough of their own kind in the tank, you can watch them school. This will make them happier overall, and they’ll show their best colors.
Most places that sell rasboras will sell them in groups. Do your best to make sure that you can take care of an adequate number of rasboras in your fish tank before proceeding.
Are Rasboras Peaceful Fish?
Rasboras are very peaceful fish overall. Many people love buying rasboras purely because they make excellent community tank members.
You can easily find tank mates for these fish. Just make sure that you pick fish that aren’t too aggressive overall.
Since rasboras are peaceful, they can be bullied and hurt by larger or more aggressive fish. Researching compatibility is imperative when you’re setting up a community aquarium.
Remember to ensure that the fish have enough room so things will go well. So long as you do this, it’ll be a great experience.
Which Fish Work Well as Tank Mates for Rasboras?
If you want to put rasboras in a community fish tank, you have many options to consider. These peaceful fish are known to get along with many others.
Danios fish are among the most popular tank mates for these fish. Much like rasboras, danios fish are relatively small and peaceful.
Cory catfish are bottom-dwelling fish that are incredibly peaceful. They won’t bother your rasboras, and they look very pretty in a community aquarium.
Dwarf gouramis can work out nicely as tank mates for rasboras, too. They leave rasboras alone, and they aren’t much bigger than most types of rasboras.
Of course, you should research compatibility based on the individual species of the rasbora that you own. This will ensure the best results.
Will Rasboras Jump Out of the Tank?
Sadly, rasboras are known to jump out of fish tanks sometimes. You need to protect your fish to keep this from happening.
When caring for rasboras, make sure that the fish tank has a secure lid. This will keep the fish from being able to jump out.
A rasbora will die if it jumps out of the tank. To keep your fish safe, you will need to use an appropriate lid for the aquarium.
Luckily, it won’t be hard to find what you need. Now that you know that jumping is an issue, you can take steps to protect your fish.
Are Rasboras Easy to Breed?
Rasboras aren’t necessarily the easiest fish to breed in captivity. Most types of rasboras lay their eggs among plants.
So it’s important to keep a planted aquarium when you’re planning to breed rasboras. There are some of these fish that will breed in a planted aquarium without you really having to do anything, but this isn’t the case for all rasboras.
It’s recommended to avoid breeding rasboras until you have a bit of experience. This will ensure that you have a better time with it.
What Types of Rasboras Are the Best?
There are several popular types of rasboras that you might be interested in. Which rasboras you’ll want to buy will depend on your sensibilities.
The popular rasboras that are sold at pet stores are all hardy fish. Most people wind up falling in love with harlequin rasboras.
These fish grow to be two inches long, and you can keep a sizable group of them in a 20-gallon fish tank comfortably. They’re beautiful fish that are easy to care for and fun to observe.
If you’d like smaller fish, it’s best to go with chili rasboras. These fish grow to be one inch long, and they thrive in small fish tanks.
Some keep chili rasboras in fish tanks as small as 5 gallons. Others like to keep them in 10-gallon fish tanks.
Final Thoughts
Now you have a much better idea of what it takes to care for rasboras. These are hardy fish that are good for beginners, but it’s still best to know what you’re getting yourself into.
Don’t hesitate to buy rasboras for your fish tank. These are relatively peaceful fish that are easy to care for.
You just need to meet their basic care needs and put in some effort to keep them healthy. This means monitoring the water parameters, feeding the fish often enough, and setting the tank up properly.
Be sure to use a filter and a heater in the aquarium. Rasboras don’t like strong currents, so it’s best to go with a filter that moves the water gently.
Heaters can keep the water temperature from fluctuating in the tank. You also want to pick a fish tank that is the right size so your fish won’t become stressed.
Knowing more about rasboras will allow you to make good decisions and care for them well. You can take care of the basics, and it’ll be simple to set up an aquarium for these fish.
It’s even easy to add these fish to a community aquarium as long as you research compatibility ahead of time. Move forward with confidence and enjoy your fish to the fullest.
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.