Brilliant Rasbora Care Guide - Tank Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Brilliant Rasbora is a comparatively large and elegant member of the rasbora group, with a streamlined body built for life in open water. Its silvery-gold base colour is complemented by a dark lateral marking and warm reddish or coppery tones that become more noticeable when the fish is settled and displaying.

Brilliant Rasboras are native to Southeast Asia, particularly the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. They occur in slow-moving forest streams, peat-swamp waterways and other shaded habitats associated with soft, often tannin-stained water.

A group should have at least a 100-litre aquarium, preferably measuring around 90 cm long by 30 cm wide or larger, because these active shoaling fish use the length of the tank. Provide open swimming space alongside dense planting, driftwood, roots and subdued lighting. Dark sand or fine, smooth gravel works well, while leaf litter and tannin-rich wood can create a natural Southeast Asian stream setting without obstructing the fish’s swimming area.

Up to 10 cm (4 inches) in total length. Females are usually slightly larger and deeper-bodied than males.

In nature, Brilliant Rasboras feed on small aquatic and terrestrial insects, insect larvae, tiny crustaceans and other fine food items. Offer a varied diet of quality small pellets or flakes supplemented with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, mosquito larvae and brine shrimp. Small portions given regularly help maintain their colour and condition.

Brilliant Rasboras are peaceful community fish and can be kept with similarly sized, non-aggressive species such as peaceful gouramis, smaller barbs, other rasboras, danionins, kuhli loaches and suitable Corydoras. They are best avoided with fin-nipping species, highly territorial cichlids and large predatory fish that could swallow them or intimidate the group.

Brilliant Rasboras are egg-scattering fish that can be bred in a separate, mature spawning aquarium with soft, slightly acidic water, subdued lighting and fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Condition the adults with plentiful live or frozen foods, then introduce a well-matched group. Spawning usually takes place among the vegetation, after which the adults should be removed because they may eat the eggs. The eggs generally hatch within a day or two, and the tiny fry can be raised on infusoria or another suitably fine first food before moving on to newly hatched brine shrimp.

Females are generally fuller through the abdomen and slightly larger, especially when carrying eggs. Males tend to be slimmer and may show stronger colour contrast when courting or competing with one another.