Spotted Rasbora Care Guide - Aquarium Tips, Diet & Breeding

Spotted Rasboras are tiny, delicately patterned cyprinids with a warm reddish-gold body and a distinctive dark spot toward the rear of the flank. Their small size and subtle colouring make them especially appealing in carefully planted nano aquariums, where a group moving through the foliage creates a lively but gentle display.

These rasboras are peaceful, timid fish that become noticeably more confident when kept in a proper group. They spend much of their time in the middle and upper levels of the aquarium, darting between plants in short bursts before settling among the vegetation.

In the wild, Boraras maculatus is associated with shallow, slow-flowing forest waters. Leaf litter, submerged roots and tannin-stained water create a sheltered environment with subdued light and numerous tiny organisms to browse among.

The species belongs to the Boraras group of miniature rasboras, whose members were formerly included within Rasbora. Spotted Rasboras are often confused with other dwarf rasboras, but their compact body and prominent dark flank marking help distinguish them.

Spotted Rasboras are native to Southeast Asia, including parts of Peninsular Malaysia, southern Thailand and Sumatra. They inhabit slow-moving, clear to tea-coloured forest waters, including peat swamps, small streams and pools rich in leaf litter.

A group should be given an aquarium of at least 40 litres, with a footprint around 45 x 30 cm or larger. Use gentle filtration and subdued lighting, with dense fine-leaved plants, floating cover, wood and leaf litter to create shelter and visual security. A dark, fine-grained substrate enhances their colour, while open areas for swimming and calm, clean, soft water complete the setup.

Up to 2.5 cm (1 inch). Females are usually slightly larger and deeper-bodied than males.

Spotted Rasboras are micropredators that feed on tiny crustaceans, insect larvae, worms and other small aquatic organisms. Offer suitably fine foods such as crushed quality flakes, nano pellets, baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops and grindal worms. A varied diet of small live or frozen foods helps maintain their colour and condition, while portions should be small enough for their minute mouths.

Spotted Rasboras are peaceful community fish best kept with other tiny, non-aggressive species. Suitable companions include pygmy Corydoras, small Otocinclus, clown killifish, celestial pearl danios and other gentle Boraras or small rasboras, provided the water requirements match. Avoid large, boisterous or predatory fish, including many medium-sized barbs, gouramis and cichlids, which may intimidate or consume them.

Spotted Rasboras are egg scatterers that may spawn among fine-leaved plants, moss or spawning mops. Condition adults with plenty of small live or frozen foods, then provide mature, soft, slightly acidic water and gentle lighting. They lay only a few adhesive eggs at a time, and adults may eat both eggs and fry, so separating the eggs or using a densely planted breeding setup improves survival. Free-swimming fry need infusoria or other microscopic foods before progressing to newly hatched brine shrimp.

Females are generally broader through the belly and have a fuller, more rounded body, especially when carrying eggs. Males are slimmer and often show stronger red or orange colouring, particularly when displaying or competing for attention.