This beautifully-marked, peaceful fish is one of the most widespread and longest kept species in the aquarium hobby, and we are glad to offer it!
The Scissortail Rasbora (Rasbora trilineata) makes an absolutely captivating addition to any aquarium. Its body is mostly a silver color, but it is known for the black and white "flagging" on its tail, similar to that of the Rummy Nose Tetra. Its unique tail pattern and high activity make this fish a standout for any aquarium. Mature females are noticeably larger and more "rounder bellied" than their male counterparts.
The Scissortail Rasbora is easy in care as long as it has stable water parameters with good water quality. Like all rasboras and danios, this fish is completely peaceful and totally safe to keep with other fish (as long as the other fish are peaceful as well), snails, shrimp, and live plants. While it is safe with adult shrimp, it might prey on shrimp fry. The Scissortail Rasbora is a schooling fish that can only thrive in groups of at least 6-8 specimens. Keeping this fish in a large school will ensure its most natural behavior, especially top coloration from males as they compete for the attention of females. When this fish is healthy and placed in a well-cycled and densely planted aquarium, it is fairly likely that it will spawn, and you may see fry start to appear.
The Scissortail Rasbora is omnivorous and not too picky about eating. It will likely eat fish flakes or pellets, but also needs a varied diet of frozen meaty and/or live meaty foods (such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, and insect larvae) in order to breed or even show its best coloration. It will also eat blanched vegetables such as lettuce, zucchini, kale, etc.
The Scissortail Rasbora is a very undemanding, classic fish that is a prime candidate for the planted or nano aquarium!
What We Like About This Fish:
- Unique pattern and striking colors
- Ideal schooling fish
- Safe with plants
- Completely peaceful
- Very active
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:
- Temperature: 73° - 77° F (22° - 25° C)
- pH: 5.0 - 8.0, but 6.5-7.5 is typically ideal
- KH: 2 - 10 dKH
- Minimum tank size: 10 gallons
CARE GUIDELINES:
- Diet: Omnivorous. Will readily accept most flake foods and algae wafers, as well as freeze-dried daphnia, bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp.
- Social behavior: Peaceful, schooling/shoaling.
- Origin: Tank-bred, but indigenous to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Sumatra
- Average adult size: 1.4 - 1.8 inches (3.5 - 4.5 cm)
- Average purchase size: 1 - 1.5 inches (2.5 - 3.8 cm)