Gangetic Scissortail Rasbora Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Gangetic Scissortail Rasbora is a relatively large, streamlined rasbora with a silvery body, a dark lateral marking and a deeply forked tail. The upper and lower lobes of the caudal fin often show contrasting dark and pale tones, creating the scissor-like appearance that gives this fish its common name.

This species is an active midwater swimmer that looks most impressive when moving as a coordinated group. Although generally peaceful, it is more robust and noticeably larger than many of the small rasboras commonly kept in community aquariums.

In the wild, Gangetic Scissortail Rasboras are associated with calm or gently flowing waters, including river margins and seasonally flooded habitats. These environments can contain submerged vegetation, overhanging plants and areas of open water where the fish can forage and evade predators.

Their natural range spans a broad part of the Indian subcontinent, and local populations may vary somewhat in colour, pattern and adult size. In the aquarium they are best appreciated as confident, constantly active shoaling fish rather than as solitary display animals.

Gangetic Scissortail Rasboras are native to South Asia, particularly the Ganges and nearby river systems of northern India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. They inhabit slow-moving sections of rivers, streams, floodplain waters and connected wetlands.

A group should be provided with an aquarium of at least 120 litres, ideally measuring around 90 cm long by 40 cm wide or more so they have sufficient swimming space. Use a fine sand or smooth gravel substrate, with areas of dense planting, driftwood or roots around the sides and rear while leaving an open central swimming area. Gentle to moderate filtration, good oxygenation and subdued or broken lighting suit their river-margin origins, and a secure cover is important because active rasboras can jump.

Up to about 12 cm (4.7 in) in total length; females are often slightly deeper-bodied and may be marginally larger than males.

These omnivorous rasboras accept quality flakes, small pellets and granules, supplemented with frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae and bloodworms. Offering varied foods helps maintain their colour, energy and condition. Feed small portions once or twice daily, ensuring that all food is eaten promptly.

Gangetic Scissortail Rasboras are peaceful community fish and can be kept with other similarly sized, calm species. Suitable companions include larger danios, peaceful barbs, rainbowfish, gouramis, peaceful loaches, Corydoras and other medium-sized rasboras. Avoid very small fish that could be viewed as prey, fin-nipping species, aggressive cichlids and slow-moving fish that may be intimidated by their activity. They should also not be housed with large predatory fish.

Gangetic Scissortail Rasboras are egg-scattering spawners that may breed in mature, densely planted aquariums. Condition a group with plenty of live or frozen foods, then provide fine-leaved plants or spawning mops among gentle-flowing water. The adults should be removed after spawning because they may eat the eggs. Eggs usually hatch within a few days, and the tiny fry need infusoria or another suitably fine first food before progressing to baby brine shrimp.

Females are usually fuller through the abdomen, especially when carrying eggs, while males tend to be slimmer and may show a more intense body pattern. The differences are subtle outside breeding condition.